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'14-'18aviationcollector · 9 October 2009, 03:02 PM

Hi,

I don't know if it's an old wive's tale or not but Gerald Muir told me that pilots, especially those of rotary engined aeroplanes used to have chocolate and whiskey for breakfast at least. The reason this applies particularly to rotary engine pilots is that the fine mist of castor oil had a laxative effect. This is the reason it was not advisable to eat much, so the chocolate fulfils this role. The whiskey was supposedly to calm their nerves. As I was saying it could be an old wive's tale but this is what Gerald said, and I have heard it from other sources too of course.

Regards,

David.

9 October 2009, 03:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
'14-'18aviationcollector Forum Ace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canberra, A.C.T., Australia Posts: 1,379	Hi, I don't know if it's an old wive's tale or not but Gerald Muir told me that pilots, especially those of rotary engined aeroplanes used to have chocolate and whiskey for breakfast at least. The reason this applies particularly to rotary engine pilots is that the fine mist of castor oil had a laxative effect. This is the reason it was not advisable to eat much, so the chocolate fulfils this role. The whiskey was supposedly to calm their nerves. As I was saying it could be an old wive's tale but this is what Gerald said, and I have heard it from other sources too of course. Regards, David.