Mike Marron wrote:

"Phineas Pinkham" wrote:

Doesn't really matter. They all wear Aviation Badges anyway. Look like
Coxey's Army. Can't tell the Pilots without a Program!

USAF Command Pilot wings are much larger in size (rightfully so!)
than other aviation badges. I don't think it's no accident that I
haven't lost Dad's Command Pilot wings but I did (regrettably)
somehow manage to lose his medals back when I was a young
kid. The silver wings have tarnished a bit over the years but that's
OK since you can clearly see the imprint where he used his thumb
to pin the wings onto his dress blues.

-Mike Marron

Sorry, Mike, but, unless things have changed drastically, the wing
size remains the same with the exception that Senior Pilot has the
star affixed to the shield and Command Pilot adds the wreath around
the star. Otherwise, the wings are the same size.

Use to be--2000 hours total rated time or 1300 first pilot to get
senior pilot rating, plus seven years rated and 3000 hours or 2300
first pilot and 15 years rated to get command pilot. The first pilot
time requirements reflect a recognition of the difference between
small airplanes where an aviator is flying and multi-place airplanes
where an aviator is observing.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (ret)
***"When Thunder Rolled:
*** An F-105 Pilot Over N. Vietnam"
*** from Smithsonian Books
ISBN: 1588341038