2007-02-12 16:22:59 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Because back in the days of open cock pit flying pilots had to turn their heads to see around them. So this ment a lot of moving their neck and rubbing it against their flight jacket, causing it to become raw and sometimes break open. the handkerchiefs were to keep their jackets from rubbing their necks.
2007-02-12 16:28:13 · answer #1 · answered by colera667 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The used silk scarfs for all the above purposes. When you had the days of the open cockpit with the engine in front of you any and EVERYTHING that leaked out ended up on your face. So the End of the Scarf was helpful for cleaning the lenes of your goggles. Also as this is Pre Radar you would spend alot of you time Visually Scanning all around you plane. The Scarf would prevent the chaffing of your neck. It was also very useful to prevent the wind from getting into your jacket. Now it's just an Affection that looks Really Cool.
2007-02-12 17:36:02 · answer #2 · answered by Wolf of the Black Moon 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Back in the days of open cockpits they wore scarves. This was to protect the neck area from being frost bitten. It was also used in the days of WW1 to ID certain pilots who would wear as certain color scarf this would help other pilots ID there leader thus you see very long scarves trailing behind some squadron leaders. They don't wear these any more unless they are flying an open cockpit plane. Now a days they wear neck ties or nothing around there necks.
2007-02-13 04:37:54 · answer #3 · answered by brian L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fighter Pilot Scarf
2016-12-12 19:30:52 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone is close, but it's actually a silk scarf and the tradition began in WW1. In those days, the engines were lubricated with castor oil and there was a constant spray coming back into the cockpit. The pilot would use the fine woven silk scarf to cover his nose and mouth to limit the amount of castor oil that he ingested. They also often carried a brandy flask to counter the effects of the castor oil.
If your mother has ever given you a couple of spoonfuls of castor oil, you know why the pilots did not want to ingest a lot of it while they were thousands of feet in the air and no bathrooms around!
2007-02-12 20:32:10 · answer #5 · answered by Gordon B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All very good reasons. Three cheers.
But, heres another reason. Instrumentation in those days was not as it is today. During a dog fight, if the pilot dove th plane into a cloud, he could not tell if the plane was right side up, or upside down. The long scarf would raise up over his head and cover his face and he would know he was upside down.
Good answer, Good answer!
2007-02-13 05:33:56 · answer #6 · answered by billy brite 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am the odd man out here.......
The scarf is there to keep their nose covered while flying. This is during the time of open cockpit. Tradition continues as a fashion statement.
Women did that to keep their hair from getting messed up with all that wind. They always wanted to look prim and proper.
2007-02-12 18:26:15 · answer #7 · answered by Nightrider 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's to keep their uniform from chafing their neck when they turn their head a lot.. or at least that used to be the reason with fighter pilots. Now it's more of a tradition.
2007-02-12 16:26:35 · answer #8 · answered by Barbara H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because of the constant turning of the head to spot enemy fighters pilots would wear scarves to keep form chafing and plus++ a bleach white scarf on a bomber jacket is soo cool
2007-02-12 16:32:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Do you mean a Scarf?
This is a tradition going back to World War I.
The Pilot could use the scarf to clean-off the windscreen.
2007-02-12 16:28:34 · answer #10 · answered by Living In Korea 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋