New AOPA Pilot magazine video
Go to:

http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/2011/november/challenges_powerless_flight.html

Tom

Nice.

Just one remark: in this video, everybody seems to be wearing a
baseball cap while flying. I wonder why.

In Belgium where I live, the safety commitee of the Flemish soaring
federation deems this type of cap unfit for glider flying. The same is
true in most of the surrounding countries.

Arguments against baseball caps:
- the large visor (peak) is blocking out part of the visibility,
unless very carefully positioned;
- the brim often collides with the canopy, hampering visibility and/or
head rotation, especially for tall people;
- ears and neck are left without protection against sun rays;
- the knob on the summit of the cap can damage the canopy in
turbulence.

That's why most European glider pilots wear a bucket hat. Not really
trendy, but safe (does not hamper look out) and efficient (protects
face, ears and neck)...

I agree. I was recently involved in an internet debate with some power
pilots in the UK, who regard our “beanie” (Bucket?) hats as stupid. I
explained how functional they are and that baseball caps are not
permitted unless worn backwards when flying, which some of them then
took as being snobbish!

I remarked that they presumably don’t bother with any upwards
lookout.

Chris N.

On Nov 7, 3:48*am, stephanevdv > wrote:
> Nice.
>
> Just one remark: in this video, everybody seems to be wearing a
> baseball cap while flying. I wonder why.
>
> In Belgium where I live, the safety commitee of the Flemish soaring
> federation deems this type of cap unfit for glider flying. The same is
> true in most of the surrounding countries.
>
> Arguments against baseball caps:
> - the large visor (peak) is blocking out part of the visibility,
> unless very carefully positioned;
> - the brim often collides with the canopy, hampering visibility and/or
> head rotation, especially for tall people;
> - ears and neck are left without protection against sun rays;
> - the knob on the summit of the cap can damage the canopy in
> turbulence.
>
> That's why most European glider pilots wear a bucket hat. Not really
> trendy, but safe (does not hamper look out) and efficient (protects
> face, ears and neck)...

Same in the US, nobody in their right mind wears a baseball cap in a
glider - and for the same reasons you are listing.

On Nov 7, 7:41*am, Chris Nicholas > wrote:
> I agree. I was recently involved in an internet debate with some power
> pilots in the UK, who regard our “beanie” (Bucket?) hats as stupid. I
> explained how functional they are and that baseball caps are not
> permitted unless worn backwards when flying, which some of them then
> took as being snobbish!
>
> I remarked that they presumably don’t bother with any upwards
> lookout.
>
> Chris N.

There are a number of "knobless" baseball caps out there, including (I
think) the AOPA one seen in the video. I flew with one of these once
when I left my bucket hat at home and the biggest problem (as noted)
was forward and upward visibility. I ended up turning it backwards.

What I want is a bucket hat with padding - my bald head keeps whacking
the canopy in rough thermals!

Mike

On 11/7/2011 1:06 PM, Mike the Strike wrote:

> There are a number of "knobless" baseball caps out there, including (I
> think) the AOPA one seen in the video.

The 'knob' on a baseball cap is easily removed using common tools. The
lack of upward visibility is the main reason that I don't wear them. I'm
thinking of a new book about glider pilots. The working title is either
"We Who Wear Funny Hats" or Guido's Glider Guider Guide". :-)

Tony

On Nov 6, 10:34*am, Tom > wrote:
> New AOPA Pilot magazine video
> Go to:
>
> http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/2011/november/challenges_powe...
>
> Tom

Good Job Tom
And I don't care about the hats.
Maybe if people didn't think they needed to wear dopey looking hats we
would get more pilots.- LOL
We need all the positive exposure we can get.
UH

Agreed. The AOPA has had several nice glider articles recently. They
also are the 800 lb gorilla when it comes to airspace and regulatory
issues that impact the glider world as well as general aviation
overall. It is an organization worthy of our support.