RAF Pilot Wins Handlebar Moustache Battle

Steyr

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7451939.stm


RAF pilot wins moustache battle

An RAF fighter pilot has won his battle with the United States Air Force over the size of his handlebar moustache.

Flight Lieutenant Chris Ball, who is on an exchange posting with the USAF in Afghanistan was told to trim his distinctive moustache.

The pilot, who is usually based at RAF Lossiemouth, turned to the Queen's Regulations and found the moustache's width did not breach RAF guidelines.

The rules state the moustache should not go below the edge of the mouth.

Despite Flt Lt Ball serving on exchange with the USAF, the RAF still have some say on the attire and appearance of their staff.

The USAF relented and Flt Lt Ball's moustache was left unruffled.


An MoD spokeswoman said: "Queen's Regulations for the RAF (QR209) state that if a moustache is worn, the upper lip is to be unshaven and the moustache is not to extend below the edge of the mouth.

"The commanding officer shall be the arbiter as to what is or not an acceptable style or length of cut.

"A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) exists covering the exchange of Officers of the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force.

"The MOU states that 'Officers are to comply with the dress regulations of their own Service and the order of dress for any occasion is to be that which most nearly conforms to the order of dress of the unit with which they are serving.

"Local commanding officers should not issue instructions to officers which cannot be fulfilled by reasons of difference in dress regulations."

'Big and bushy'

Moustache aficionados were delighted that Flt Lt Ball could continue to sport his facial hair.

Rod Littlewood, vice president of the London-based Handlebar Club, said the RAF had a long association with the moustache.

"We are delighted with this result, it's one in the eye for these people - a moustache is all about individuality," he said.

"One theory behind the association between airmen and a hairy top lip was to make young pilots look older."

He added: "During the Second World War a lot of these chaps signing up to fly were pretty young.

"A moustache would certainly make them look a lot older and more manly."

Mr Littlewood, who sports a large handlebar moustache, said: "The moustache is not that popular in the UK at the moment but as far as we are concerned they have never gone out of fashion.

"Everything goes around in circles and I don't see any reason why they shouldn't become more popular.

"Of course the handlebar is the most sought after - it's big and bushy and swishes across the top of the lip."

davyjose

The Goose Approves

http://www.gamerevolution.com/images/misc/goose.jpg

suspectdevice

davyjose wrote: »

The Goose Approves

http://www.gamerevolution.com/images/misc/goose.jpg

i'm sure freddie would too

Winters

Tally 'o Chaps!

"bandits at 11 o'clock"

The yanks are just jealous :pac:

Sherifu

America's Next Top Model wrote: »

Tally 'o Chaps!

Lol @ new name

kowloon

Sherifu wrote: »

Lol @ new name

What was the old one? I can't find it.

Manic Moran

That's odd.

Ordinarily the only time we impose our dress standards on attached foreign personnel are if there is an operational reason (such as facial hair preventing a gas mask from fitting correctly) or if they are wearing US uniform (For example, foreign officers here in Ft Knox are authorised to do PT in US PT uniforms, but must completely adhere to the US dress and appearance regs if they do so)

However, it doesn't look like it was exactly a major battle. Once the RAF pilot in question provided the US General with a copy of the Queen's Regs, the American relented. It's something drilled into us at OCS: If you wish to stand your ground with a superior, present them a copy of the reg, and they'll acceed: The theory being that nobody can know each and every regulation but you should be able to back up anything you choose to do which is a bit out of the ordinary.

NTM

Guy:Incognito

Taches are ghey.

longshanks

stekellies are ghey or

davyjose

Ah in fairness Freddy Mercury has a lot to answer for. Some of the most influential historical figures of the 20th Century had 'taches - Hitler, Stalin, Einstein, Charlie Chaplin, Magnum, Super Mario ... the list goes on.

longshanks

............and on

mary harney, anne doyle, that blackburn woman who does d'weather

ART6

davyjose wrote: »

Ah in fairness Freddy Mercury has a lot to answer for. Some of the most influential historical figures of the 20th Century had 'taches - Hitler, Stalin, Einstein, Charlie Chaplin, Magnum, Super Mario ... the list goes on.

AND YORE MA!!!

I've been waiting for ages to post that stupid bl**dy phrase:D

roadruner

Tally Hooooooooooo

Supercell

Lollers, I lolled really

Tally ho chaps what!!

roadruner

Supercell wrote: »

Lollers, I lolled really

Tally ho chaps what!!

LOL Chocks away........and razors too

Guy:Incognito

longshanks wrote: »

stekellies are ghey or

Incorrectly pluralising a surname is ghey.

davyjose wrote: »

Ah in fairness Freddy Mercury has a lot to answer for. Some of the most influential historical figures of the 20th Century had 'taches - Hitler, Stalin, Einstein, Charlie Chaplin, Magnum, Super Mario ... the list goes on.

It goes on until you hit a point a couple of generations ago where people took a look at themselves and went "what the **** are we thinking"

ART6

Jealousy. The Yanks can't grow facial hair.:D

Manic Moran

ART6 wrote: »

Jealousy. The Yanks can't grow facial hair.:D

Can't grow beards. Moustaches are permitted, within regs.

NTM

Fratton Fred

Lord Flashheart will be pleased. Surely only a poof would object to a handlebar tache