U.S. B3 style sheepskin leather Flying Jacket
Excellent high quality soft leather Flying Jacket.
SIZES: Small to XX-Large
The flight jacket:
there is nothing quite like it. Aside from its classy, vintage style, its history has immortalised it. It can be seen in the pictures of fighter groups and bomber squadrons from WWI and II; these jackets that the pilots wore were intrinsic to them, a part of their story. That, the original insignia, the fine quality of its manufacture, and the fact its reputation has made it a symbol of true, youthful Americanism all contribute to the reason why this item is so treasured by collectors. However, regardless of why, one thing is for certain: the flight leather jacket may have started as a modest enterprise, but it became a timeless and admired item.The flight jacket was created for practical reasons. As aircrafts became more advanced, altitudes got higher, speeds increased, and temperatures dropped. Most heavy bombing raids in Europe during WWII took place from altitudes at least 25,000 ft. To keep the pilots from freezing, nonetheless allowing them to fly comfortably, very warm and protective clothing was needed. In England, RAF pilots had already begun wearing long leather coats in 1915, and the trend caught on. The Army established the Aviation Clothing Board in September 1917 and began distributing heavy duty jackets; with high wrap around collars, zipper closures with wind flaps, snug cuffs and waits, and some fringed and lined with fur. Thus, the American Flight Jacket was born. Hollywood movies like Top Gun boosted sales of the flying jackets tremendously, making these once specialised jackets collector and fashion items.
