When flying, specially when high above my head, I sometimes catch myself having my mouth open.

This of course is not a big problem but I prefer having my mouth closed to preserve my image.

I wonder if anyone else have or think about this problem and how to go around it.



Fly low and fast.

Easy, come on up here and fly during blackly season.

You can't wear repellant inside the mouth and It's amazing how quickly a few bites there will teach you to keep your mouth shut.

After cresting 50 years, you'll find your jaw muscles weaken and
I find my mouth hanging open too. If this persists, the next step
is a dribble cup to protect the Tx. I can only wear the cup when
flying alone to avoid the rude comments. We don't have the huge
mosquitos here, but those little pesky sand fly can cause instant
gagging.
Randy

Chew gum

grinning like a maniac works for me

I almost always fly with my mouth open and or smiling.

Although I thought I'd mention I use to chew gum, until I got so intense during a rolling alternating circle that I chipped a tooth :stupid: !

You want to talk about an instant gag Fortunately it wasn't a big chunk of tooth.

Ah, now I see another use for those Tilley hat straps. Simply wear it forward to hold the chin up.

I find myself not blinking nearly as much as I should be. I have been asked why I was crying when returning to the pits because my contact lenses had dried out.

i have a habit of that to

I constantly shift around on my feet and use a lot of body language. I never used to do it. I think I picked it up from trick kite flying where you are alternating between powered flight (regular forward wind powered flight) and stall maneuvers, spins, flips, floating (tricks) where you use your whole body to "talk" to the kite.

Now that I'm actually practicing IMAC basic sequence, my concentration level is way up. I probably do all kinds of goofy stuff on the flight line.

I vote for chewing gum.

Thats what I do.

1. Take out the field repair kit
2. Cut a 4-6" piece of 2" packing tape
3. Apply tape over lips, pressing firmly and smoothing it from the center to the edges.
(in extreme hot or cold climates it might be necessary to use 200mph duct tape instead of standard 2" packing tape.)

Caution: Removal of tape must be done with extreme care. Those with facial hair are urged to not try this method, as irritation and mandible baldness may occur!

Mouth hanging open? Do what I do. Open a CA bottle with your teeth. Lips stay locked for awhile, at least the rest of the flying session.

dont worry I have been at this all my life 40 + years and I still do the same and I have been latin american aerobatic champion and am doing very well here in USA in the IMAC circles and to this day I not only have a wide open mouth but slip in a little body english....

I fly with mine open - that way I can snack on the bugs which are always annoying me...
There's a tape from the '97 FAI F3A world championships made mostly by Diane Lakin. SHe catches her husband, Chris, on tape with his mouth open and later Wolfgang Matt. Obviously only the really good flyers can fly with there mouths open
-Will B.

I fly with my mouth open so I can easily get my foot in it.......

The same thing happened to me and I fixed the problem by moving the back of my lounge a tad forward and it pins my bottom jaw to my chest. hehe

interesting... may have to try a few of these ideas