Flight Jackets—More Than a Fashion Statement, They’re a Rite of Passage

They’re practical, collectible, a fashion statement, an artist's canvas, part of family traditions, and more.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, March 07, 2022 at 02:19 PM ET

Verified

Waist-length flight jackets started to appear in the 1920s. [Courtesy: Anneke Helleman]

Key Takeaways:

Flight jackets originated in the early 1900s for open-cockpit pilots, evolving into iconic designs like the Type A-2, distinguished by features such as leather construction, knit cuffs, zippers, and specific collar styles.
Original WWII-era flight jackets are highly prized collectibles, with authentic pieces—especially those retaining original insignia and artwork—fetching significant prices, making careful authentication from trusted sellers essential.
For individuals desiring a wearable jacket without collecting an artifact, companies produce historically accurate reproductions that mimic original designs, materials, and methods, often serving as personal tributes or fashion statements.
The unique artwork on WWII flight jackets told stories of missions and promoted morale, making them important historical artifacts currently being extensively photographed and documented to preserve their legacy.

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There are few articles of clothing more iconic than an aviator’s flight jacket. It doesn’t matter if it is made from animal hide or a man-made fabric, if it was issued, purchased or a gift—there is something about the jacket that quickly makes it a favorite piece of clothing.

How it Began

The concept of the flight jacket traces back to 1910 when members of the Royal Flying Corps in Belgium and France took to the air in unheated open-cockpit biplanes, balloons, and airships. Leather was more windproof than cloth—therefore warmer—so it became the fabric of choice for an aviator’s outerwear. The first garments covered the pilot from neck to ankle.