Editing Aviator badge (section)

==Romania==
===1912–1931===
The first military aviator badge of Romania was approved by the [[Ministry of National Defence (Romania)|Ministry of War]] in 1912, following the establishment of the [[Air Force Application School "Aurel Vlaicu"#Origins|first pilot school]] in [[Cotroceni]]. It featured a silver miniature of a [[Blériot XI]] worn by pilots and observers on the collar of their tunics.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://amnr.defense.ro/webroot/fileslib/upload/files/Revista_Document/Revista_061_2013.pdf|title=Din Istoria Aripilor Românești 1910-1916|magazine=Buletinul Arhivelor Militare Române|author=Valeriu Avram|language=ro|issue=61/2013|date=2013|page=6|issn=1454-0924}}</ref> In 1915, after the formation of the [[Romanian Air Corps]], new pilot and observer badges were introduced. The pilot badges featured a [[silver plate]]d royal eagle holding a bomb in its claws and the [[royal cypher]] of [[Ferdinand I of Romania|King Ferdinand I]] on its chest. Officers wore the metal badges on the left side of the chest while [[non-commissioned officers]] wore a silk badge sewn on the left sleeve. From 1919, NCOs were allowed to wear the same badges as the officers. After the death of King Ferdinand, the badge used the cypher of [[Michael I of Romania|King Michael I]] until 1931, when [[Carol II of Romania|King Carol II]] introduced new badges.{{sfn|Lazar|Stambuliu|2016|pages=80, 82}}

<gallery class="center">
File:Romanian military aviator badge 1912.png|Model 1912 aviator badge
File:Romanian WW1 Pilot badge.png|Model 1915 Romanian pilot badge
</gallery>

===1941–present===
At the initiative of General [[Iosif Iacobici]] and [[Air squadron general]] [[:ro:Gheorghe Jienescu|Gheorghe Jienescu]], the military pilot badges, named "war pilot badges", returned to the World War I aspect in 1941 with the difference being the replacement of the royal cypher with the [[coat of arms of Romania|coat of arms]] of the [[Kingdom of Romania]]. After the abdication of King Michael in 1947, the aviator badges were replaced following the Soviet model.{{sfn|Lazar|Stambuliu|2016|page=86}} During the [[Socialist Republic of Romania|communist regime]], training levels achieved by the pilots were introduced. These levels, classes 1–3, were displayed on the badges in [[Arabic numerals]]. In 1977, an initiative launched by some aviators, with support received from [[Nicu Ceaușescu]], youngest child of [[Nicolae Ceaușescu]], brought back the old-style pilot badges. The new badges copied the model 1941 ones, with the coat of arms of the Socialist Republic of Romania shown instead. After 1989, the decision was taken to issue new badges with the center coat of arms replaced by the Romanian [[cockade]] due to the lack of a new heraldic emblem. The present [[Romanian Air Force]] pilot badges were adopted in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviatori.uv.ro/Insigne-aviator-medalii-colonel-Culea.html|title=Insigne din Aeronautica Română|access-date=20 December 2024}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=December 2024}}

<gallery class="center">
File:Air Force Marshal Badge - King Michael I of Romania.jpg|Model 1941 pilot badge
File:Romanian Air Force pilot badge.svg|Current pilot badge, 1st class
</gallery>