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Flight jacket
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==The flight jacket== === Early history === ====World War I==== [[File:Richard Byrd in flight jacket, 1920s (exbt-iceberg-47).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Richard E. Byrd|Richard Byrd]] in flight jacket, 1920s]] In [[World War I]], most airplanes did not have an enclosed [[cockpit]], so pilots had to wear something that would keep them sufficiently warm. The [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] officially established the Aviation Clothing Board in September 1917 and began distributing heavy-duty leather flight jackets; with high wraparound collars, [[zipper]] closures with wind flaps, snug cuffs and waists, and some fringed and [[lining (sewing)|lined]] with fur. ====World War II==== [[Leslie Irvin (parachutist)|Leslie Irvin]] first designed and manufactured the classic [[sheepskin]] flying jacket. In 1926 he set up a manufacturing company in the [[United Kingdom]], and became the main supplier of flying jackets to the [[Royal Air Force]] during most of [[World War II]]. However, the demand during the early years of the war was so great that the Irvin company engaged subcontractors, which explains the slight variations of design and colour that can be seen in early production Irvin flying jackets. As aerospace technology improved, the altitudes at which aircraft operated increased. Some [[Carpet bombing|heavy bombing raid]]s in Europe during World War II took place from altitudes of at least {{cvt|25,000|ft|m}}, where ambient temperatures could reach as cold as −50 °C (−58 °F). The cabins of these aircraft were uninsulated, so a warm, thick flight jacket was an essential piece of equipment for every member of the crew. === Flight jackets in the United States === The two most historical American flight jackets are the [[A-2 jacket]] of the [[USAAF|Air Force]] and the [[G-1 military flight jacket|G-1]] of the [[United States Naval Aviator|Naval Aviators]]. Although [[Henry H. Arnold|General “Hap” Arnold]] cancelled the original A-2 after twelve years because he wanted "something better", the A-2 remains the most recognizable and sought-after American flight jacket. The G-1, designed by the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] to parallel the Air Corps’ A-2, lasted until 1978, when [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] cancelled it due to its tremendous popular appeal, which was overwhelming the Navy's supply system. Their popularity evolved into symbols of honor, adventure, and style. [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] films like ''[[Top Gun]]'' boosted sales of the G-1 tremendously, making bomber jackets collector and fashion items. In addition to the A-2 and G-1 jackets, [[shearling]] jackets, originally lined with fur, are recognized for being the warmest flight jackets. Even when the fur was replaced with [[wool]], this coat was warm enough to keep Lt. [[John A. Macready]] warm when he set a world record in April 1921, reaching an altitude of 40,000 feet in his open-cockpit airplane. Styles range from the B-3 "bomber jacket", to the [[M-445]], the U.S. Navy's shearling jacket. Also popular in the military were, and still are, synthetic jackets. These jackets first gained esteem after General Hap Arnold rejected the A-2 jacket in 1942. Styles range from the cotton [[twill]] B-series to the standardized jacket of the U.S. Navy, the CWU-series. Both synthetic and shearling jackets are worn and collected by army buffs today, but neither has the historical status of the [[A-2 jacket]] or the G-1. Today, flight jackets are usually associated with the [[MA-1 bomber jacket|MA-1]], a now-obsolete [[United States Armed Forces|U.S. military]] jacket, which is mostly found in sage green. It is made with flight silk [[nylon]] and usually has a [[Safety orange|blaze orange]] lining, with the specification tag in the pocket, though earlier models had a sage-green lining and the specification tag on the neck area. It has two slanted flap pockets on the front, two inner pockets, and a zipped pocket with pen holders on the left sleeve. The lighter weight version of the MA-1 is known as the L-2B flight jacket, which in turn, replaced both the original L2 and L2A jackets, which all three differ from the MA-1 as they have snap-down [[Epaulette|epaulets]] and no inside pockets. The military flight jackets currently used today are the CWU-45P (for colder weather) and the CWU-36P (for warmer weather); both are made from [[Nomex]]. === Civilian uses === [[File:Bomber baseball.jpg|thumb|Baseball bomber jacket 1980s-style summer]] In the 1970s and 1990s, flight jackets became popular with [[scooterboy]]s and [[skinhead]]s. In the 1980s, a baseball style bomber jacket became popular. In 1993, uniform flight jackets were given out by [[Bill Clinton]] at the [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation|APEC]] meeting held in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ryall |first1=Julian |title=Apec 'silly shirts' to stay in wardrobe in Japan |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/730089/apec-silly-shirts-stay-wardrobe-japan |access-date=17 May 2024 |agency=South China Morning Post |date=11 November 2010}}</ref> In the early 2000s, the bomber jacket was popular casual wear in [[Hip hop|hip-hop]] fashion. The jacket has also caught on with several police departments across the United States for its sturdy design and heavy insulation. The flight jacket has had a resurgence in popularity during the 2010s in street fashion, and is a notable staple of celebrities such as [[Kanye West]]. === List of flight jackets (leather) === * [[MA-1 bomber jacket]] * [[A-2 jacket]] * [[B-3 jacket]] * [[B-6 jacket]] * [[B-7 jacket]] * [[B-32 jacket]] * [[Cooper A-2 jacket]] * [[G-1 military flight jacket|G-1]]
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