Had my first solo flight in a Warrior and learned about the tradition of cutting your shirt tail after soloing. Learned the origin is from tandem seat planes with no radios where the instructor would tug on the students shirt tail to correct them. Then the instructor would cut the students shirt tail to signify the student not needing an instructor.
Has anyone else lost their shirt tail to their instructor?
At my gliding club, when you first solo they cut a big ol square out of your shirt, right over your stomach. I’m supposed to solo later this year, I’ll be sure to not wear my favorite shirt…
Congrats on your solo!
It’s one of my favorite aviation traditions!
I made that exact mistake of wearing my favorite shirt but you don’t mess with tradition.
Either all of my shirt goes, or none of it does.
I had my shirt cut by my instructor when I first soloed
MaxSez: Marines Baptist on solo and first FAM; Buckets of water, throw in a puddle or into the nearest body of water.
(Shirt tail cutting can be an expensive civilian trick, I threw my ruined shirt in the rag bag and wore a skivvy shirt to the hanger there after.
MaxSez.
I love this tradition. I do have one… wore a white t-shirt so I could do it.
Working on getting it framed.
Here is more info for anyone who cares:
Interesting, I didn’t know this. Thanks for the link @Mattheus. I have a subtle and cunning plan… Wear two shirts! 😊
I might have to wear a Yankee shirt then because I am a redsox fan lol.
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