First Solo, Licence, Wings and Last Flight
A pilot's career is marked by moments he'll remember for the rest of his life. Personalised pilot cufflinks can capture any of them:
- The first solo, when the instructor steps out and the aircraft suddenly feels much lighter.
- Passing the licence skills test, whether private or commercial.
- Getting his wings, in the RAF, the Fleet Air Arm or the Army Air Corps.
- The first day with an airline, or the move from first officer to captain.
- The last flight before retirement, often met with a water salute and a crowd of colleagues.
They also make fine presents for Father's Day or a birthday, for a pilot who spends most of his free time at the flying club. Personalised pilot cufflinks also suit the instructor who sent him solo, a gift from a grateful student that recognises hours of patient teaching in the right-hand seat. And for a pilot getting married, a pair showing the aircraft he loves adds a personal detail to the wedding suit that fellow aviators will spot straight away.
Designs From the Flight Deck and the Hangar
Aviation is full of strong, graphic imagery, which translates well to a cufflink. Some ideas:
- The aircraft he flies, photographed side-on so the silhouette is clear.
- The registration of his own aircraft or the club plane he learned on, such as G-ABCD, in bold letters.
- Pilot's wings or a squadron badge, for serving or former military aircrew.
- Runway numbers, like "27" in the style of runway markings, from his home airfield.
- His initials in the phonetic alphabet, such as "Tango Mike", which any pilot will read at a glance.
- A vintage aircraft, a Spitfire, Tiger Moth or Concorde, for the enthusiast.
- A logbook page or first-solo certificate, cropped to the entry that matters.
For airline pilots, a photograph of the aircraft type he flies, taken on the apron at dawn, can be very striking.
Photographing Aircraft for a Small Square
Aircraft are long and thin, and a square cufflink is, well, square. That means a full side view will leave empty sky above and below. There are two good ways around it. You can accept the space and let the sky frame the aircraft, which looks elegant if the sky is a clear blue. Or you can crop in more tightly to the nose, cockpit and engines, which fills the face and often feels more dramatic.
Choose a sharp photograph with the aircraft well lit and the background uncluttered. Hangar shots with ladders and tugs in the frame can look busy at cufflink size. Use the live preview to zoom and position the aircraft, bearing in mind that the file prints at its original resolution, so the higher the quality of the photo, the better.
For Aviation Lovers Who Don't Fly
Not every aviation lover holds a licence. Plenty of men spend their weekends at air shows, photographing aircraft at the end of a runway or volunteering at an aviation museum. For them, a photo they took themselves, a Red Arrows formation or a favourite warbird, is a thoughtful choice. Pilot cufflinks also suit air traffic controllers, engineers and cabin crew who share the same love of flight.
Flying clubs and squadron associations sometimes order pairs for members or as prizes. A club order can include a different aircraft for every member; buy five or more pairs and each is £15, with shipping charged once at £5.
How to Order
- Upload your image of the aircraft, badge or design.
- Check the live preview on both cufflinks, dragging and zooming to frame it just right.
- Order securely. A single pair is £40 with shipping included.
After 17 years of making personalised gifts, our Cornwall workshop knows a good photo when it sees one; each pair is printed there with a polished, silver-coloured finish. They arrive gift boxed, ready for the crew room or the celebration after he lands.