![]() The MA-1 was designed by the United States Air Force to serve as an intermediate weight flight jacket for use all year. More MA-1 jackets appeared in Europe as Alpha and later Rothco began to export MA-1 jackets and other military clothing to European Air Forces and commercial customers. In 1963, Alpha Industries won the contract to manufacture the MA-1. MA-1 jackets first appeared in Europe in very small quantities in the mid-to-late 1950s probably on the black market and at sales of government surplus. Small numbers were also issued to Army flight personnel. The first MA-1 jackets were issued to United States Air Force and Navy pilots and flight crews. Nylon had been discovered prior to World War II and used during the war for items such as parachutes, but was not used in flight clothing until after the war. The B-15 had a wool collar with pile carried over from the earlier B-10 that was found to interfere with straps in practice. ![]() To meet these needs, a new type of flight jacket was developed from the existing B-15 jacket, which was initially produced in cotton, but later produced in the same pattern but in high quality nylon. Rather than bulky leather, a sleek, lightweight yet warm jacket was needed for the new jet technology. Speedy, unimpeded ingress and egress from cockpits became even more critical for safety. Cockpits were cramped and filled with new equipment. Also, the new jets were more streamlined in design. If the heavy, bulky leather jackets became wet from rain (when the pilot walked to his aircraft) or from perspiration, the water would freeze at high altitudes, making the jackets cold and uncomfortable. However, the new jets could fly at much higher altitudes and in much colder temperatures than propeller aircraft. Prior to the invention of jet aircraft, fleece-lined leather jackets were issued to flight personnel. The MA-1 and its predecessor, the B-15 flight jacket, were originally developed and needed at that time because the characteristics of the new jet aircraft created new requirements for pilot performance, safety, and comfort. The MA-1 bomber jacket (also known as the MA-1 flight jacket) is an American military jacket which was developed in the 1950s. ( November 2009) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ī modern MA-1 bomber/flight jacket, with sage green exterior and safety orange lining Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations.
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