Royal Air Force Tartan

**cessna152towser** · 29th September 06, 03:16 AM

Would you be kind enough to review how to get "authorized" for the tartan. Sounds like we're both son's of RAF pilots.

Or can my kiltmaker just order it up from the mill??

I contacted Flt. Lt. Arthur Mackie who is named on the site which I linked to and explained that my father was an ex-RAF airman and that although I had been a cadet in the Air Training Corps (the youth volunteer section of the RAF), I did not subsequently gain acceptance into the full-time RAF service, and enquired as to my entitlement to wear this tartan. He replied that he would be happy to make me a kilt in RAF tartan. So I'd assume that as the son of a RAF pilot you'd also be entitled to wear it. Especially as your dad flew Spitfire and Hurricane fighters. My father was an airman, not a pilot. In other words he serviced the aeroplanes and engines. He was based in Canada with 36SFTS (Special Flying Training School) at Gananoque Ontario and Penhold Alberta till 1943 when he sustained a head injury in the course of duty and after a period in the sick bay he was shipped back to Scotland and served with 57MU (Maintenance Unit) from '43 till '46 on the Solway Firth, servicing the flying boats in Wig Bay and land based aircraft at Castle Kennedy airfield where he was based, hence my active involvement with Solway Aviation Museum at Carlisle Airport and visits to Castle Kennedy in light aircraft.

Flt. Lt. Arthur Mackie seems to have some sort of a connection with the Strathmore Woollen Company Limited who supply the fabric. I think he is a retired RAF pilot and later an adult instructor with the Air Training Corps. He or his wife will be making my kilt for me.

With regard to Barb's helpful comments, the white stripe occurs at intervals of six and a half inches while the red stripe repeats just under six inches apart, with two thinner red stripes midway between each red stripe. I will be posting my order today and will ask Flt. Lt. Mackie's advice as to whether the kilt would look best pleated to the stripe or to the sett.

He offers a delivery time of three to four weeks.

I think this tartan will look good with lovatt blue hose.

**Raftartan** · 30th September 06, 04:49 AM

I hope you have managed to visit the www.kamrafa.co.uk website where you will see an increasing number of kilts as we get photographs back from our customers. ( many promise but don't always send them). The designer of the RAF Tartan can be contacted directly at momack@lyndale.wanadoo.co.uk Arthur was a former RAF pilot and will provide you with any further details you might require.

Best Regards

Brian web master in training.

**Raftartan** · 30th September 06, 05:03 AM

Hi Ron
I can assure that you are well qualified to wear the RAF tartan kilt in most cases the kilts are ordered by people with RAF connections but the primary requirement is just liking the tartan.
We regularily ship to many countries in the world and Arthur Mackie who can be contacted at momack@lyndale.wanadoo.co.uk the RAF tartan designer. These contact details can be found at www.kamrafa.co.uk Normally for a kilt enquiry Arthur would provide appropriate measurement forms and any other details that you might require.

Hope this helps

Best Regards

Brian web master www.kamrafa.co.uk

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Thanks for this post Cessna.

My late father was a fighter pilot (flying sergeant) for the RAF in 1942 flying Spitfires and Hurricanes. Transferred to the Army Air Corps when they finally got over there in late 1942.

Have been looking for an RAF tartan to honor his service, but without success.

Would you be kind enough to review how to get "authorized" for the tartan. Sounds like we're both son's of RAF pilots.

Or can my kiltmaker just order it up from the mill??

Thanks,

Ron

**cessna152towser** · 30th September 06, 05:18 AM

Welcome to the forum.
My order is in the post to Strathmore Woollen Company.

**Riverkilt** · 30th September 06, 09:34 AM

Thanks,

I did email Arthur a few days ago. Haven't heard back from him. Assume he's a busy guy.

I'm still struggling with the concept of needing an authorization to buy cloth from the mill. Guessing my kiltmaker, Kathy Lare, can order it up and make a kilt for me. Would rather use her since she has my size down well.

Asked Kathy to check with the mill when she has time.

So, I'm hoping it will work out. Guessing I'll have answers when/if Arthur responds to my emailed request.

Not rushing this...it ain't like I need another kilt, but I'd sure like an RAF tartan kilt to honor my father's service and to have as a vehicle for passing on a proud heritage to my nephews.

Ron

**cessna152towser** · 4th October 06, 07:29 AM

Received acknowledgement of my order this morning and Flt. Lt. Mackie recommends my kilt should be pleated to the SETT, so I will go along with that and start "jonesing".

**Riverkilt** · 4th October 06, 07:57 AM

I'm geared up too.

Waiting to hear back from Mr. Mackie.

Gonna order the 16 oz from him. Guess now I'm down to deciding whether to have it pleated to the sett as recommended or to ask Kathy Lare to do it in the military style box pleat - which she says is something quite different than Matt's traditional style box pleat. Does cost extra for the time and trouble.

I'm also confused on how to order. Mr. Mackie says he has cloth and send him the credit card...but there are also the other sites...? Been rushed at work and home so really have been stabbing at getting this done between chores and crisis'.

Ron

**Tattoo Bradley** · 4th October 06, 08:52 AM

I've wondered myself about what Kathy's "military style boxpleat" kilts look like. I was pretty certain they were a different animal than Matt's traditional box pleats, simply because of the yardage differences.

**chasem** · 4th October 06, 09:12 AM

I would think they're like the Military Box Pleats of WPG (Knife pleated, then rolled back slightly - poor explanation)

**Riverkilt** · 4th October 06, 10:40 PM

Well, I'm at a communications stalemate. Stuck. I'm too ignorant of what I need to get this done. Mr. Mackie is apparently busy, no response in two days to questions I need to know to order...like where's the website to give him my credit card number through. Hope he's just busy and not ill.

Also confused since some of his answers don't seem to relate to my questions and a number of questions remain unanswered....and I'm feeling very very ignorant because of it.

Tried emailing Strathmore, the mill, and they have not responded to their "contact us" email either. I always wonder why companies put that contact us feature on their websites then don't even monitor it....

I do know that the 16 oz RAF tartan is available in single wide - but I've no clue how much to order. Have an email off to Kathy to confirm the quantity of single wide (whatever that is) for a kilt for my massive girth.

Just frustrated...so gonna walk away from this deal for a while and see what happens.

Also asked Kathy for a pic or info on how her military box pleats are different than Matt's traditional box pleats.

Mr. Mackie said he was having more 16 oz made up very soon...not sure if that's single or double wide or whatever....maybe I'll just wait for that.

Now also hearing that the tartan looks good pleated to the white stripe.

Really now, have reached the point that I'm so confused I'm reluctant to act. No point in screwing this up. Its not like I "need" another kilt.

Where I'm at now is first needing to know how much of that single wide I need for an 8 yard kilt. Second I need to know how to transmit my credit card information in a secure manner.

If I can just get that part figured out and the fabric mailed to Kathy I can work the rest out with her.

But the simple things are becoming very very complicated.

So, maybe that's a message to back off for a while. I've learned to beware of unresponsive vendors, but I've also learned that things happen in people's lives just like mine. So, we'll see.

Ron