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!
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.