A classic flight jacket from the past – CWU 36/P

Instead of presenting new arrivals, this time we take a little trip back into the past. Alpha Industries had a contract with the US Department of Defense, manufacturing flight jackets for United States Air Force pilots starting from the 1950s.

Since the design of fighter jets forces pilots to sit in quite cramped spaces, there was a need to develop jackets that would provide comfort, safety, and last but not least, warmth for the pilots under those conditions.

Major Eric Northam, 2016. Created by Michael D. Jackson

In the beginning, flight jackets were still made from nylon fabric, which kept warmth well and was water-repellent, but unfortunately, in the event of a fire in the cockpit, it posed an even greater hazard to the pilot's life as it would melt onto their body. The technological advancement of materials and fabrics then gave a new impetus to the development of a safe jacket.

CWU 36/P

In 1972, the first models sewn from fire-resistant fabric were created: the CWU 36/P and 45/P jackets. The NOMEX material from which these coats are made is a Dupont product that possesses outstanding heat, chemical, and radiation resistance. NOMEX material even resists cigarette embers; it is a truly high-quality, durable fabric.

When designing the jackets, functionality also came to the forefront, and since they didn't want pilots walking around with their hands in their pockets, the pockets were placed at an angle and high up. Velcros on the pockets are used to eliminate problems caused by foreign objects (no torn-off buttons).

In 1988, the nylon version of the CWU 45/P was produced for the commercial market, and in the late 1990s, the leather version was also introduced. Nowadays, several modified models have appeared in the selection, such as the CWU LW PM, which is slim-fit, thus adapting even more to the demands of modern times.

CWU LW PM

You can view all our CWU models here: CWU