Aviator Jackets

The aviator jacket started as flight kit — a heavy hide shell with a thick shearling collar, built to keep pilots warm in unheated cockpits. That brief still defines it: of all the leather jackets, this is the genuinely warm one.

What makes a jacket an aviator

Three things, and a jacket needs all of them to earn the name:

• A shearling or fur collar that turns up against wind — the signature detail.
• A heavier hide than a fashion jacket, usually cowhide, goatskin or sheepskin.
• A lined body, often shearling throughout, which is where the warmth actually comes from.

Aviator, flight and bomber jackets get used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. A bomber is lighter, ribbed at the collar, cuff and hem, and built for looks more than cold. An aviator is heavier, warmer and unmistakably a winter jacket. If you want the lighter option, start with the bomber range instead.

The classic patterns

• B-3 — the heavyweight shearling flight jacket with a deep collar and buckle straps. The warmest thing here.
• B-15 / MA-1 influenced — shorter and lighter, closer to a bomber silhouette with an aviator collar.
• Aviator coats — longer cuts that carry the same collar and lining over the hip for more coverage.

How warm, really

A shearling-lined aviator is warmer than almost any leather coat, because wool traps air rather than simply blocking wind. For genuinely cold, dry winters it can replace a wool overcoat entirely. It is less suited to mild or very wet climates — shearling is bulky and does not love sustained rain. If your winters are mild, a lined leather coat is the more sensible buy.

Fit

Aviators are cut roomier than a moto jacket because they are meant to go over a sweater. Check the shoulder seam sits at the edge of your shoulder, and allow room across the chest for a mid-layer — but do not size up so far that the collar stands away from your neck, since that is where the warmth escapes. Cropped versions end at the waist; longer coats cover the hip. See our measuring guide before ordering.

Leather and colour

Brown — especially distressed or vintage-finished — is the traditional aviator colour and ages beautifully. Black reads sharper and more modern. Cowhide gives the most structure and durability; goatskin balances toughness with suppleness; sheepskin is softer and lighter. Our aviator and shearling jacket guide goes deeper into choosing between them.

Care

Shearling needs airing rather than washing, and the leather shell wants conditioning a few times a year to stay supple. Store it hung on a broad padded hanger in a breathable cover — never sealed plastic. Our storage guide covers the off-season routine.

Ordering

If you want a specific hide, colour or collar depth, we make custom aviator and flight jackets to your own measurements. Free express shipping in the USA, international calculated at checkout, and a lifetime stitch guarantee. See also shearling jackets and all men’s leather jackets.