Flight Suit [Cliff Tait]

Maker and role
Cliff Tait, Attributed to
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Object detail

Accession number
2005.84.1
Maker
Cliff Tait
Description
Grey flying suit worn by Cliff Tait on the Airtourer ZK-CXU during his round the world flight. The suit is made of grey cotton drill with 15 plastic buttons. Sewn on belt threaded through placket. The belt clasp is metal with a slit. 2 breast pockets with button-down flaps. 2 button pockets on trouser legs and button front including fly. Makers label on the back of the collar was cut out.
There are several badges and medals on the suit given by various people: On the left hand breast pocket is 8 badges - a Canadian Maple Leaf, Darwin Aero Club, AWC Aero Club, Airtourer Association, a small gold badge (striped shield with wings and blue string), two gold badges depicting planes, and a Rolls Royce logo badge. On the right chest is two badges - for airlines BCA and TAL - and pinned to pocket is a French Miraculous Medal (Medal of Our Lady of Graces). 5 patches are stitched to the right arm these are: Skyway Air Services Ltd of Abbotsford and Langley B.C., Harrison Airways of Vancouver, unknown, Cyprus Aero Club, PCA Aero Club(?). The pocket on the right hand hip is made using the patch from the Royal Canadian Flying Club of Mocton patch.
Brief History
This flying suit was worn Cliff Tait during his round the world flight in 1969 using an Aero Engine Services Limited (AESL) Airtourer single-engined aircraft. Cliff Tait carried out the flight to promote New Zealand and the NZ-built Airtourer to the world. Leaving Hamilton on 12 May 1969, he made the 30,500 mile (49,084 km) trip in 284 hours. Despite a range of challenges along the way, he returned safely to Hamilton on 1 August 1969. Tait made history as the first person to circumnavigate the globe in a New Zealand built aircraft, and probably the first in a single engine aircraft of this small size. The flying suit features pins and patches collected by the aviator on his travels around the globe.
Media/Materials
Processed Material/Textile/Cotton
Processed Material/Synthetic/Plastic
Processed Material/Metal
Collection
Cliff Tait Collection
Textiles Collection
Credit Line
Cliff Tait. Flight Suit [Cliff Tait], 2005.84.1. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).

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