Where to buy cheap wings for a museum uniform?

MQAAord

Scheherazade
Staff member
I've been asked to put together a pilot and F/A uniform for display at the Indianapolis Children's Museum. I went to Goodwill, bought a man's & a woman's navy blue suits. I have a hat & tie to go with it, and will sew silver stripes on the sleeve.

My need is for two sets of silver wings for the jackets (one possibly smaller than the other), and one set for the hat, or an appropriate-looking silver hat pin. The lady I'm working with has said that she cannot guarantee the return of these items, or guarantee their condition upon their return. Therefore I will not donate for display mine or Bill's REAL old wings or uniforms. I would like to find some cheap wings, that are NOT real airline or military wings. The uniforms are "made up", and are not made to be from a real airline, they're just non-desrcript "pilot" and "F/A" uniforms.

The best thing I've found are the wings in the Sporty's catalog, but two shirt wings & a pair for the hat are going to be >$50. Is there anywhere that I can find something similar for a little cheaper?
 
If you haven't found anything by the time I get back to the US (Jun 30th), I'll send you some old wings I have. Not sure how long you have to be a member, but I have at least 1, possibly 2 wings from AOPA, along with some other stuff at home.

Let me know if you are still in need and I'll hook you up...
 
What? You mean you don't have any of the plastic wings that FAs give out to kids!

I do, but I don't want the wings on these uniforms to look cheap, kiddie & plastic. I at least want them to be metal. Also, I don't want to use any actual airline's insignia.
 
You think? I came across their site in my Google search, but they looked to be a dealer who one would deal with if they're looking to outfit a whole bunch of employees.... do you think they'd sell just 2-3 pairs?
 
Oh thanks! Those might work... still plastic but the shiny finish (while kinda cheap looking) is better than anything else plastic out there!
 
I think our friends at the TSA are making it difficult to find generic pilot wings for sale on the internet. I remember seeing generic wings for sale at the AIRWAYS pilot shop at KLNS a couple years back, something a pilot for a small outfit might buy to complete a uniform. But there's nothing on the online store.
 
Sad, eh?

I actually really wish I could donate a set of full, complete & authentic Eagle uniforms. But, when she said she couldn't guarantee their return or their condition.... well they're pretty sentimental and I would want them back if/when the display they're in comes down.

I have an old Simmons hat that I really should give to the AMR museum on the schoolhouse campus in DFW. That hat was not worn by either of us, (I confiscated it when the old crew lounge in ORD was being demolished and the morning of the final demolition we were invited into the old bag room to help ourselves to whatever was still left after all the warnings of "get your stuff out by XXXX date or else!") And it belongs in a museum, not collecting dust in our house.
 
Sporty's has some for $15 (jacket) and $18 (Cap). While they are generic, they might be a bit pricey for what you're looking to do with them.

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Sad, eh?

I actually really wish I could donate a set of full, complete & authentic Eagle uniforms. But, when she said she couldn't guarantee their return or their condition.... well they're pretty sentimental and I would want them back if/when the display they're in comes down.

I have an old Simmons hat that I really should give to the AMR museum on the schoolhouse campus in DFW. That hat was not worn by either of us, (I confiscated it when the old crew lounge in ORD was being demolished and the morning of the final demolition we were invited into the old bag room to help ourselves to whatever was still left after all the warnings of "get your stuff out by XXXX date or else!") And it belongs in a museum, not collecting dust in our house.

Amber,
You'd be welcome to my old Eagle uniform. Theoretically, I've got the jacket, hat, and wings somewhere. It's just taking up space now, and I weighed 50lbs more than I do now so I sure hope to not wear it again.
 
Amber, have you thought about donating it to the Air and Space Museum? They might like that.
 
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