USAAF Type A-1
• 1920s USAAF flight jacket
• Hand-sewn buttons
• Keyhole buttonholes
• Two button flapped patch pockets
• Straight rear yoke
• High-grade knitted collar, cuffs and waistband
• Replica label
• Pictured left in Capeskin
The Type A-1 jacket was the first USAAF produced flight jacket, first introduced in 1926 as USAC summer flying jacket and then standardised for use on November 7th 1927.
This original jacket was made from Cape Sheep Leather, had a cotton lining, wool knitted cuffs and waistband and knitted collar with two button and flapped pockets placed low on the front. Sheep had very poor wear qualities and originals are impossible to find these days. We recommend Goatskin which has a very similar softer drape to the Cape Sheep but is infinitly stronger and was also used for some of the original USAC jackets or Horsehide, particularily the Vegtanned Vicenza for its exceptional strength.
The Type A-1 has 5 central buttons for closure with 2 buttons for neck fastening. The buttons on an Aero Type A-1 are hand sewn for extra durability. It has two snap buttons to fasten the bottom of the jacket. The back of this jacket has two piece leather panels: The top yolk having a straight panel. The A-1 could still be found in limited use during WWII and was finally taken out of duty on September 29th 1944, after stocks were exhausted.
Original A-1’s were made to look quite blousy but our patterns take the weight of modern leather into consideration, so this is a little less blousy than the originals.
The A-1 has quite a slim fit with quite high cut armholes so we generally recommend ordering your usual size (normally the one closest to your expanded chest measurement) and rarely recommend sizing down.
For further general sizing information, please see our sizing FAQ section. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for there, please get in touch.
Don’t worry, all sizing information displayed here is only a guide. Every order placed is checked over by a member of our production team who will confirm your size selection against your measurements or recommend any necessary changes that need to be made. If you have any specific queries, you can note these in the special instructions box on the ‘measurements’ page when placing your order.
