flight suit....blue or green? not sure, was told green was not current suit

[tweety150]

I want to purchase a flight suit and have altered and patches sewn on and want to be the most current suit available.

[spacecommand]

Both are "current" (who told you it wasn't)?

Blue is the corporate version and green is the air force version.

For flight suits, I think most people use velcro patches instead of sewing them on.

[Hawk200]

For flight suits, I think most people use velcro patches instead of sewing them on.

Many do, but I sew them directly. Never have to worry about losing a patch.

I will be ecstatic when we can finally wear cloth nameplates. Sew that thing on, and done.

[Major Carrales]

I will be ecstatic when we can finally wear cloth nameplates. Sew that thing on, and done.

Careful, Hawk, some people here might take this to mean you are already breaking the regulations.  I commented less and got more condescension than I bargained for.

[Hawk200]

I will be ecstatic when we can finally wear cloth nameplates. Sew that thing on, and done.

Careful, Hawk, some people here might take this to mean you are already breaking the regulations.  I commented less and got more condescension than I bargained for.

I would hope people aren't that stupid. "When we can" is far different that "I'm doing such and such."

Still wondering how long it's going to take. Just hoping that when it's approved, none of the best suppliers have been C&D'd.

[SarDragon]

I prefer Velcro. It's a bigger pain in the beginning, since you have twice the sewing. But, after you're done, you can remove the patches when you launder the suit, and keep the patches in good condition. In all the time I've been wearing Velcro'd patches, I've never lost one, or even had one come off unintentionally.

[spacecommand]

I don't know Colonel Fagan, I'm sure he's a stand up guy who worked through the ranks in CAP and reading the article shows it as well, however I don't think the uniform combination shown in the news article is within regulations...

http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/news/article_032e9aca-3920-56a3-8276-d70dd519758b.html

[Hawk200]

I prefer Velcro. It's a bigger pain in the beginning, since you have twice the sewing. But, after you're done, you can remove the patches when you launder the suit, and keep the patches in good condition. In all the time I've been wearing Velcro'd patches, I've never lost one, or even had one come off unintentionally.

I have a few times, and it seriously annoys me. Sewn on is a lot easier. If you wash the suit inside out, fading really isn't much of an issue considering how seldom we wear them.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

Both are current.

The only real difference is that the AF green one requires you to be within height/weight/grooming standards.

The blue CAP one doesn't.

It also may be a bit easier to find the green ones around, but the ones I see in Army/Navy shops are used - very used.

I'm another one who uses Velcro.  I get the adhesive-backed kind from Hobby Lobby.  Stick it in place, let dry for a few hours, stitch over it (much easier) and you're GTG.

Personally, I like the leather nameplates - kind of retro-looking, especially with the blue flight clothing and A-2, kind of like in Jimmy Stewart's Strategic Air Command.  If I ever become National CC, I will MANDATE that every CAP member MUST have that movie in their DVD/BluRay/whatever library!

My only real "wish-we-could-but-it-ain't-gonna-happen" is that we would be allowed to wear this on the flight suit/jumpsuit:

[PHall]

Why do you want to wear HQ CAP-USAF's unit patch? You're not assigned to that unit.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

Why do you want to wear HQ CAP-USAF's unit patch? You're not assigned to that unit.

You didn't notice the part about "wish-we-could-but-it-ain't-gonna-happen?"

That means I have no illusions about wearing it.

Why would I want to wear it?  Because it's CAP-related and it LOOKS KOOL.  Nothing more or nothing less should be read into it.

This LOOKS KOOL too but I have no illusions about wearing it:

[fyrfitrmedic]

Why do you want to wear HQ CAP-USAF's unit patch? You're not assigned to that unit.

You didn't notice the part about "wish-we-could-but-it-ain't-gonna-happen?"

That means I have no illusions about wearing it.

Why would I want to wear it?  Because it's CAP-related and it LOOKS KOOL.  Nothing more or nothing less should be read into it.

This LOOKS KOOL too but I have no illusions about wearing it:

What's that, veQ'duj pilot's wings?

[Eclipse]

Don't use velcro, it looks like poo, and no seniors get promoted so much as to justify it.

The blue version looks sharp and is readily available, however both blue and green are approved for wear.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

If you can use velcro right, it can look really good and be more functional than just sewing it on. If a patch gets worn or frayed or faded you can just pull the patch off with your fingers and sew a new one to some velcro and you are good to go, none of that seam ripping junk that could run you the risk of tearing a hole in your uniform. If I could I would just use it on my BDU patches as well.

I definitely prefer the black leather name plate to the cloth colored ones on both the blue and green flight suits, especially on the blue suit. It looks more professional than the multicolored clown patches that some have, if they are just blue and gold or blue and red, no problem, that would look just fine. I have seen some that are three or four different colors that just look god awful.

I also prefer the green flight suit, I can get one cheaper on evil bay cheaper than I can get a blue one anywhere. I got a really good green flight suit on Ebay for $20.

Go with velcro, and you can wear a green flight suit so long as you fit into height, weight standards.

[Eclipse]

I definitely prefer the black leather name plate to the cloth colored ones on both the blue and green flight suits, especially on the blue suit. It looks more professional than the multicolored clown patches that some have, if they are just blue and gold or blue and red, no problem, that would look just fine. I have seen some that are three or four different colors that just look god awful.

Anyone wearing anything but a leather nametag in CAP is violating regulations.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

Anyone wearing anything but a leather nametag in CAP is violating regulations.

We have already been putting it out there that we know cloth nametags are against CAP reg. Some are just saying it is a wish that we could wear them. And we know that picture in the article above is wrong, some just want it to be right.

[Eclipse]

Anyone wearing anything but a leather nametag in CAP is violating regulations.

We have already been putting it out there that we know cloth nametags are against CAP reg. Some are just saying it is a wish that we could wear them. And we know that picture in the article above is wrong, some just want it to be right.

I'm not referring to anyone specifically or any article. There are members, even whole squadrons, all over the country wearing the wrong
style nametags either willfully or because they don't know better.

With that said, since just about every other agency with a flight suit wears full color, I don't know that I would refer to them as "clown patches".

[spacecommand]

I like the leather name tag.  In my opinion, it's traditional looking and looks better then the cloth ones used in the military.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

Don't use velcro, it looks like poo, and no seniors get promoted so much as to justify it.

Except that the Velcro comes affixed already to the left breast to hold the leather nameplate, which comes also backed with Velcro.

I don't know about Vanguard, but my Civil Air Patrol "MAJCOM" insignia for the right breast also came backed with Velcro (Hock Shop).

I use Velcro also to attach both sleeve insignia (US flag/wing) and my dark-blue grade insignia.  Looks fine, and when I need to wash it, just pull the insignia off and wash away.

[Eclipse]

Don't use velcro, it looks like poo, and no seniors get promoted so much as to justify it.

Except that the Velcro comes affixed already to the left breast to hold the leather nameplate, which comes also backed with Velcro.

Sorry, I meant on the grade, not the regular insignia.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

^^So noted.

It does look like "poo" if you try to Velcro the plastic-encased rank insignia, but the navy-blue insignia looks pretty good.

I don't see why the AF doesn't authorise that for the green flight suit.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

^^So noted.

It does look like "poo" if you try to Velcro the plastic-encased rank insignia, but the navy-blue insignia looks pretty good.

I don't see why the AF doesn't authorise that for the green flight suit.

Auth what? The encased insignia, or the blue insignia?

[Eclipse]

Auth what? The encased insignia, or the blue insignia?

Either bright on ultramarine or bright on dark blue.  The bright on dark blue looks sharp on the blue flightsuits and utilities, and would look better and be easier to obtain / maintain than the clear plastic on the green.

Bright on green would also be a good  option.

No more greenhouses.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

Auth what? The encased insignia, or the blue insignia?

Either bright on ultramarine or bright on dark blue.  The bright on dark blue looks sharp on the blue flightsuits and utilities, and would look better and be easier to obtain / maintain than the clear plastic on the green.

Bright on green would also be a good  option.

No more greenhouses.

By greenhouses do you mean when the plastic insignia gets moisture in it? I have seen this a few times.

[Eclipse]

By greenhouses do you mean when the plastic insignia gets moisture in it? I have seen this a few times.

Yep.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

By greenhouses do you mean when the plastic insignia gets moisture in it? I have seen this a few times.

Yep.

You know that won't happen if you just use sticky velcro and don't sew the insignia to the velcro, no moisture can get in. Plus the adhesive velcro is made to stick to plastic, so you don't even have to sew it to the velcro.

[Eclipse]

Then you wind up with a 1/2" battlement on each shoulder.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

Then you wind up with a 1/2" battlement on each shoulder.

I am yet to see that happen, mine are on with velcro, and they don't stand anywhere near a half inch high.

[HGjunkie]

Velcro ain't as thick as some may suspect...

[MSgt Van]

I dont' have a problem with the rank insignia.. Don't understand...   

[Eclipse]

Velcro ain't as thick as some may suspect...

Standard, brand-new velcro sits 1/8" tall, plus 1/16" for the insignia.  That is a 3/16" battlement, and that's before it has been
man-handled by thick-fingers, multiple washing, caught on the seat belt, etc.

It looks worse on the shoulder because you see it in profile.  I have never seen anyone with velcro'ed grade insignia with it on straight and flat. 

And yes, I just measured it.

[HGjunkie]

Ok, I guess it does matter where you put it and how you look at it. I use velcro for my flag on my BDUs, and unless you got up close and personal, you would never know the difference.

[vento]

Velcro on the rank insignia really is problematic. I've seen in more than one occasion where the flight bag, or seatbelt, or whatever pushed the insignia away or removed it completely without the flightsuit wearer even noticing it until somebody else pointed it out.  I guess it has to do with the location and also the surface area of the velcro for the insignia being smaller than a Majcom or flag.

[Mustang]

I don't know Colonel Fagan, I'm sure he's a stand up guy who worked through the ranks in CAP and reading the article shows it as well, however I don't think the uniform combination shown in the news article is within regulations...

http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/news/article_032e9aca-3920-56a3-8276-d70dd519758b.html

Nope. Embroidered nametag and grade insignia (especially subdued) are not authorized.  That nametag looks well-worn, suggesting that he's flaunted the regs with it for quite some time. 

[Thrashed]

The last guy I flew with had velcro insignia.  He lost one.  We found it later on the middle of his back! 

[Hawk200]

The last guy I flew with had velcro insignia.  He lost one.  We found it later on the middle of his back! 

That's the kind of thing that makes me want to be able to sew everything on, including cloth rank and a cloth nametag.