Flight Jacket
The MA-1 flight jacket was first developed in the late 1940's. A new flight jacket was needed at that time because of the emergence of the jet age which created new requirement for pilot comfort and safety. Before this invention of the jet, fleece-lined leather jackets were issued to flight personnel. However, the new jets could fly at much higher altitudes and in much colder temperatures than the propeller aircraft. When the heavy and bulky leather jackets became wet from rain or perspiration, the water would freeze at high altitudes, making the jackets cold and uncomfortable to the wearer. Also, the new jets were more streamlined in design and their cockpits were cramped. Speedy, unimpeded access to and from the cockpits became even more critical for pilot safety. Rather than the bulky leather jacket, a sleek, more lightweight and warm jacket was needed for this new jet technology. To meet the new needs of the pilots, a new type of flight jacket was developed. The material that was selected for the jacket was a high quality nylon. The initial nylon flight jacket was designed in about 1944. It was called the B-15 flight jacket (MIL-J-6251). The B-15 was similar to the MA-1 except it had a mouton fur collar. After a few years, the B-15 was discontinued and the MA-1 was introduced