Aviator Clothing from Balloon Era to Shuttle Era

This poster will explore the attire worn by aviators from the early eighteenth century to pre-twenty first century, predominantly of European descent. Also, a comprehensive introduction and chronological development to the world of historical flight dress. The study investigates the clothing/accessories worn by early aviators, within the dynamics of eyewear, headwear, body wear, leg wear and underwear. It will also compare the dress of early mechanical pilots, kiters, hot air balloonists and glider pilots from the early eighteenth century.

The poster will introduce the trends of flight dress of yesteryear, the reason, meaning, principles and practice of flying clothing in the universal context. It will analyse the aviation dress during the World War 1 (1913-1918) and the interwar era (1918-1939). It will also explore the aviation dress during World War II (1939-1945), the post-war flight dress (1945-1960). As aviation developed in unheated open cockpits, the need for warm clothing quickly became apparent, as did the need for multiple pockets with closures of buttons, snaps, or zippers to prevent loss of articles during manoeuvres. Various types of flight jackets and pants coverings were developed and, during World War 1, leather two-piece outfits were common among pilots to ward off the chill caused by prop wash and the cold of low-oxygen high altitude flying. Leather quickly became the preferred material due to its durability and the protection it offered against flying debris such as insect strikes during climb-outs and landings, and oil thrown off by the simple rotary and inline motors of the time.

The poster presentation will also briefly explain the societal and class structure, societal attitudes, social demeanor and social convention in the European context, for the purpose of understanding the existing society and its perception on aviation as well as factors/elements which influenced and impacted upon aviation attire.