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, first appearing in 1910, evolved into iconic designs like the A-2, becoming a cherished piece of aviator clothing.
Original WWII-era flight jackets are highly prized collector's items, with prices ranging from hundreds to over $10,000 depending on condition, artwork, and provenance, requiring careful authentication.
For those seeking a jacket to wear, high-quality reproductions are available that mimic original designs and materials, as vintage originals are often too fragile or expensive.
The unique artwork on wartime jackets tells personal stories of aviators and their missions, with efforts underway to photographically document these historical artifacts.

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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.