*Historical perspective on "traditional" gifts in aviation period 1958-'75:This is an honest question:
What is the social norm on providing gifts for your instructors?
Have times changed?
TRACOM
1. First solo - tie cutting - period.
2. Commissioning - First salute - $1.00, bill or coin... didn't have to be special silver dollar. Was never set up ahead of time, usually saved for the first 'white hat' you came across.
FLEET
1. Wetting Down party - All promotions hopefully multiple selectees to share costs. Luckily, my four wetting downs were multiple, and 3 were held in Westpac (mucho cheaper)!
2. Hook up, or wheels up pass - bottle to LSO (ship); RDO (ashore).
3 Bailout/ejection - case of hard stuff for rescue personnel (helo/boat/ground). Case of beer or bottle to PR who packed your chute. Most 'nam combat helo crews I heard of including mine, politely turned down our gesture insisting adamantly "This is our job, our success is more than gift enough"!
This is all the traditional "gifting" I can recall from our era.

BzB