PILOT BOMBER JACKETS. THEIR TRUE STORY
If there is one iconic item for any fan of the military world in general and aviation in particular, it is, like no other, the pilot jacket.
Currently, there can be no better choice than a pilot jacket when looking for a warm garment, maintaining an always fashionable style, relying on good materials, and achieving great practicality for everyday life.
These jackets are not only beautiful and fit well; they are practical and the result of many years of history and real military use that have perfected them to this day as a product that offers exceptional value for money, especially when compared to contemporary civilian outerwear.
We have to go back to World War I, when pilot cockpits were open, fully exposed to the outside cold. Pressurization was yet to be invented, and the altitudes reached by aircraft kept increasing, making the cold to be endured by pilots rise proportionally as operating temperatures dropped.
All sides in the conflict took action. The U.S. Army officially established the Aviation Clothing Board in 1917, beginning to distribute aviator jackets made of leather, with leather neck protectors, zipper closures, and wool cuffs to limit air entry into the pilot's body and retain body heat.
World War II changed everything
World War II and the entry of unpressurized bombers flying at high altitudes into the theater of operations accelerated the search for efficiency in these garments to combat temperatures that could reach -45 degrees. A well-fitting, thick leather jacket was the best ally in these circumstances.
The two most well-known and widespread American leather jackets were the Air Force's A-2 and the U.S. Navy's G-1. The popularity of the G-1, exacerbated after Tom Cruise's appearance in the film Top Gun, became so high that it saturated the American government's supply chains, leading to the cancellation of its official production. This was not an obstacle for them to become a very popular, Hollywood-style garment, tremendously in demand in the civilian world, albeit outside the official supply chain, by both pilots and enthusiasts.
But the world evolves, and so do the needs of pilots. New aircraft and their pilots demanded other requirements: less weight, greater agility of movement within the cockpit, and protection against an unexpected and fearsome fire.
With the arrival of jet aircraft, which could fly at higher altitudes with lower temperatures than propeller planes, heavy and uncomfortable leather jackets would get soaked, before even reaching the plane and during pre-flight checks if it was raining, or from perspiration inside. This body moisture, upon ascent, became a problem due to temperature changes. Cockpits began to get narrower and filled with myriad switches and indicators. Jet aircraft had more streamlined shapes, and space became scarce. The need for quick escape in emergencies in already saturated cockpits dictated a change in clothing.
The CWU appears
On the other hand, the military had a problem with nylon not sufficiently protecting against fire; they needed materials that would delay its effects. The CWU (Cold Weather Uniform) with NOMEX fabric, manufactured by Dupont, was the solution. They were produced in two different weights to adapt them to two distinct usage environments (one colder than the other), and production began for the USAF in 1972, continuing to this day in its military versions and civilian replicas (which are cheaper and more accessible as they do not require such thermal protection).
These bomber jackets (whose name comes from their initial use in bombers) initially appeared in navy blue, but were later gradually replaced by olive green after the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, to serve as camouflage for combatants in Asian forests and jungles. Over time, and especially in the years from the 60s to the 80s, their use became popular among the civilian population, particularly among certain urban groups such as punks or skinheads. But in current times, their use has spread even further, becoming a contemporary garment that can be found in any color and condition in many shopping centers and fashion stores.
The success of the MA-1
To fill a gap left by the CWU, the USAF needed a lighter garment, with a lower weight per item and less seasonal use. The MA-1 undoubtedly fulfills that purpose. Nylon is lighter, allowing the pilot to feel more comfortable in their aerial activities without compromising the thermal protection they need. The nylons used are of high quality, and the front zipper allows flexible use depending on the protection required at any given moment. Although historically the MA-1 jacket has undergone multiple modifications to adapt to the passage of time, its essence has remained unchanged. It is a flexible and comfortable garment that has adapted very well to the new cockpits and spaces of aircraft. New materials and more modern sewing techniques have been successively applied. The MA-1 has evolved in such a way that it has been more widely used by ground support personnel: armorers, mechanics, and specialists, while the use of the CWU has been reduced to personnel with active flight duties.
Initially, they were only found in navy blue and olive green, the latter being the color that has almost officially replaced the former. During the Korean and Vietnam wars, it was discovered that olive green provided better camouflage in case of being shot down in combat and operations against the enemy. In situations where there was a need to be seen from a distance and attract the attention of friendly forces for rescue operations, it could be turned into a striking orange, simply by utilizing the garment's reversible capability.
PILOT FLIGHTJACKETS. THE TRUE HISTORY
If there is one iconic item for any fan of the military world in general and aviation in particular, it is, like no other, the pilot jacket.
Currently, there can be no better choice than a pilot jacket when looking for a warm garment, maintaining an always fashionable style, relying on good materials, and achieving great practicality for everyday life.
These jackets are not only beautiful and fit well; they are practical and the result of many years of history and real military use that have perfected them to this day as a product that offers exceptional value for money, especially when compared to contemporary civilian outerwear.
We have to go back to World War I, when pilot cockpits were open, fully exposed to the outside cold. Pressurization was yet to be invented, and the altitudes reached by aircraft kept increasing, making the cold to be endured by pilots rise proportionally as operating temperatures dropped.
All sides in the conflict took action. The U.S. Army officially established the Aviation Clothing Board in 1917, beginning to distribute aviator jackets made of leather, with leather collar protectors, zipper closures, and wool cuffs to limit air entry into the pilot's body and retain body heat.
World War II changed everything
World War II and the entry of unpressurized bombers flying at high altitudes into the theater of operations accelerated the search for efficiency in these garments to combat temperatures that could reach -45 degrees. A well-fitting, thick leather jacket was the best ally in these circumstances.
The two most well-known and widespread American leather jackets were the Air Force's A-2 and the U.S. Navy's G-1. The popularity of the G-1, exacerbated after Tom Cruise's appearance in the film Top Gun, became so high that it saturated the American government's supply chains, leading to the cancellation of its official production. This was not an obstacle for them to become a very popular, Hollywood-style garment, tremendously in demand in the civilian world, albeit outside the official supply chain, by both pilots and enthusiasts.
But the world evolves, and so do the needs of pilots. New aircraft and their pilots demanded other requirements: less weight, greater agility of movement within the cockpit, and protection against an unexpected and fearsome fire.
With the arrival of jet aircraft, which could fly at higher altitudes with lower temperatures than propeller planes, heavy and uncomfortable leather jackets would get drenched, before even reaching the plane and during pre-flight checks if it was raining, or from perspiration inside. This body moisture, upon ascent, became a problem due to temperature changes. Cockpits began to get narrower and filled with myriad switches and indicators. Jet aircraft had more streamlined shapes, and space became scarce. The need for quick escape in emergencies in already saturated cockpits dictated a change in clothing.
The CWU is born
On the other hand, the military had a problem with nylon not sufficiently protecting against fire; they needed materials that would delay its effects. The CWU (Cold Weather Uniform) with NOMEX fabric, manufactured by Dupont, was the solution. They were produced in two different weights to adapt them to two distinct usage environments (one colder than the other), and production began for the USAF in 1972, continuing to this day in its military versions and civilian replicas (which are more affordable as they do not require such thermal protection).
These bomber jackets (whose name comes from their original use in bombers) initially appeared in navy blue, but were later gradually replaced by olive green after the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, to serve as camouflage for combatants in Asian forests and jungles. Over time, and especially in the years from the 60s to the 80s, their use became popular among the civilian population, particularly among certain urban groups such as punks or skinheads. But in current times, their use has spread even further, becoming a contemporary garment that can be found in any color and condition in many shopping centers and fashion stores.
The MA-1 success
To fill a gap left by the CWU, the USAF needed a lighter garment, with less weight per undergarment and not so seasonal use. The MA-1 certainly serves that purpose. Nylon is lighter, allowing the crew member to feel more comfortable in their aerial activities without undermining the thermal protection they need. The nylons used are of high quality, and the front zipper allows flexible use depending on the protection needed at all times. Although historically the MA-1 jacket has undergone multiple modifications to adapt to the passage of time, its essence has remained unchanged. It is a flexible and comfortable garment that has adapted very well to the new cabins and cockpits of the aircraft. New materials and more modern sewing techniques have been successively applied. The MA-1 has evolved in a way that has been more widely used by ground support personnel: ordnance crew, mechanics and specialists, while the CWU was reducing its use to personnel with active flight work.
Initially, they were only in navy blue and olive green, the latter being the color that has almost officially replaced the first. During the Korean and Vietnam wars, more camouflage was needed in case of demolition in combat and operations against the enemy using olive green. In case of need to be seen from a distance and claim the attention of friendly forces in rescue work, turning into a striking orange, simply using the garment's ability to be reversible, was a must.
The MA-1 has been and continues to be used, in its multiple replicas not only by other air forces but by all kinds of organizations that need a warm garment, light, of acceptable cost and easy customization. Police forces around the world also use these jackets to provide their members with a quality, warm and useful item to their heavy-duty, water-resistant and very light purposes.
Much of the MA-1 and CWU success lie in having an athletic style that doesn't go out of fashion over time. It has no gender or age limitations, it keeps you with a fitted and jovial figure. The MA-1 and CWU jackets have an aura of nostalgia behind them that reminds us of the movies and TV series of the 90s, our favorite actors and heroes. The great versatility of these jackets have made them a true bestseller. They will always have a place in our wardrobe.
Combine them with your favorite embroidered patches and you will have an exclusive garment to your liking. Imagination is your ultimate ally for varieties that adhere to a particular time or plane. The possibilities are endless.