Wings Badge

David086

Can anyone tell me what the purpose of the wings badge pilots wear? Is it just for show or does it bring good luck? Just thought there may be a story behind it.

xflyer

Never thought about it until you mention it. I imagine there's a website somewhere that explains all. But I would have thought it originated in the military like so many other insignia. 'Earning your wings' is all part of the progress of a military pilot.

All military branches have their own badges. In the early days aviation was either part of the Navy or Army. So an aviator would need a specific badge to differentiate them from the say the Infantry or Cavalry. Plus of course the wings brevet would indicate a pilot

Stovepipe

Other aircrew, in the miltary, wear single-wing brevets, such as "N" for navigator. In civil airlines, pilots wear a two-winged badge and cabin crew wear a single wing, as do other types of civil aircrew such as SAR crewmen and loadmasters.

regards
Stovepipe