MA-1 Flight jacket

bn1966 said:

Had one of these in the XL (too big) pretty much identical (same label & pocket tag) but the knits weren't ribbed....not a slim fit for sure..funny how they vary.

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Alpha did two generations of Replica MA-1 jackets, both with red tags. The 1990s version is the one you had which had normal knits. The late(?) 2000s version had the ribbed knits and slim/long cut. Both were solid and heavy.

I'm amazed by how often I see MA-1s on TV. Since Kanye West put one in one of his fashion lines, they're everywhere. I knew they were popular, but I had no idea to this scale. They're mostly, if not all, basically windbreakers in this fashion sense. Because they're not really a coat of any sort, and just two pieces of nylon and a zipper and cuffs, they're more readily worn than a thin cardigan. I watched a few minutes of a show last night that had no less than three different MA-1s. Different colors with different cuffs (one striped).

Ernest P Shackleton said:

I'm amazed by how often I see MA-1s on TV. Since Kanye West put one in one of his fashion lines, they're everywhere. I knew they were popular, but I had no idea to this scale. They're mostly, if not all, basically windbreakers in this fashion sense. Because they're not really a coat of any sort, and just two pieces of nylon and a zipper and cuffs, they're more readily worn than a thin cardigan. I watched a few minutes of a show last night that had no less than three different MA-1s. Different colors with different cuffs (one striped).

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I guess they are the quintessential nylon bomber jacket for many people. We had MA-1 style nylon bombers made by Spicer here in the 1980's to 90's and there were everywhere (sage green, navy and black) - the go to jacket for students, tradesmen, truckies, and cabbies. I must have owned 4 of them myself. I now see them worn, ironically perhaps, by hipsters.

I did not own the nylon MA-1 back in my schooldays. My roommate at boarding school had an Alpha and I sometimes borrow it when I go outdoor because my parka is great if worn outside the uniform but if I am in tees and jeans the Alpha is much better for movement. I did buy a MA-1 before I got into university but it is a leather one by Schott and it with a cotton lining is definitely not for cold weather. A rookie mistake wearing that on a trip to NY.

Iconic design and very practical, I've worn MA-1's most of my life & currently have three: one Alpha 'Vintage' series (made in USA) in blue, a Greenbrier 'vintage' version in forest green (made in USA) and a Spada textile motorcycle jacket MA-1 for riding in. On the look out for a B-15 Mod Alpha jacket (MA-1 collar) in XL in olive green with the heavy interlining. Found one a couple of months ago but didn't buy due to loads of patches glued onto it randomly.

I can't wear an MA-1 - I'm tall, have a buzz cut and look like a thug. Wearing an MA-1 I look like a rogue military cop from a Banana Republic.

Seb Lucas said:

I guess they are the quintessential nylon bomber jacket for many people. We had MA-1 style nylon bombers made by Spicer here in the 1980's to 90's and there were everywhere (sage green, navy and black) - the go to jacket for students, tradesmen, truckies, and cabbies. I must have owned 4 of them myself. I now see them worn, ironically perhaps, by hipsters.

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The modern versions with polyfill insulation have made these a highly flexible jacket since the polyfill isn't too heavy and you can wear them three seasons of the year depending on where you live. The vintage military jackets with wool insulation are obviously much warmer, but they're basically winter jackets only and too heavy for spring and fall. Also, one nice thing about bomber jackets is if you leave them unzipped you get a lot of ventilation and you can wear them on a fairly warm day but zip them up and they get warm fast. As I said, very flexible garments.

Seb Lucas said:

I can't wear an MA-1 - I'm tall, have a buzz cut and look like a thug. Wearing an MA-1 I look like a rogue military cop from a Banana Republic.

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I've been wearing sage green Alpha MA-1's since my teens in the early 90's. The difference is that till my 30's I had (very) long hair; now I try to conceal my shiny hairless top with buzz cut as well - I luckily have a beard otherwise I'd look like a Nazi.

I have a newer Alpha MA-1, in Ireland they're mainly worn by door security in pubs and nightclubs. With my head shaven out of necessity I too look like a bouncer - 'sorry lads, regulars only.'

Buzz cut here too reflect a bonce with not enough on top, I sport a large 'tache' & Stetson cap to avoid any skinhead / bouncer ID confusion. However I often drink with a crowd that includes Skinheads (not of the Nazi variety) & blend in well then

I never got the rundown on the skinhead jacket, braces, or shoelace colors and what all of them indicate. I wonder how many people got into some violence because they didn't know their hair style and jacket color were falsely announcing something about them.

Doesn't appear to be an issue in the UK with jacket colours, laces etc as far as I've noticed & close crops are a very common hairstyle either by choice or genetics. I've got braces too but a 1930's style which gives a different vibe, worn with early denim

I got into two conflicts wearing an MA-1 - hence my view on this. Not sure they thought I was a skin head, they just thought I was a generic tough nut.

MA-1's very common in my town with 'tough-nuts' and everyone else too, they were trendy a year ago with youngsters too & the streets were saturated with them and remain so..the un-trendy are now getting them cheap from thrift shops and pensioners are also getting in on the act. Was the same with N-2B's a few years ago & they became a 'little-girls' clothing style here in the UK. It's only just about safe to sport one again without being called a sissy!

bn1966 said:

Skinheads (not of the Nazi variety)

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important point, that... not all skinheads are/were racist goons

Seb Lucas said:

I can't wear an MA-1 - I'm tall, have a buzz cut and look like a thug. Wearing an MA-1 I look like a rogue military cop from a Banana Republic.

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Ha! THis is the one thing that has to date made me slightly wary of a green one (for some reason green and, to an extent, the black ones have connotations the blue never quite took on). I've been shaving my head completely for nearly fourteen years now. Apart from some kids who once asked "Are you a gay or a Nazi?", It's never been an issue, but then I had the advantage that by the time I was bald enough for the full shave, it was already relatviely mainstream and Beckham had done it, so it didn't automatically signify far right tendencies any longer. I also moved in Rocky Horror circles in those days, where what I mostly got was ladies wanting to touch my head - and, on one occcasion, a very drunk girl mistaking me for Richard O'Brien himself (who was then twice my age and half my height and weight!).

dubpynchon said:

I have a newer Alpha MA-1, in Ireland they're mainly worn by door security in pubs and nightclubs. With my head shaven out of necessity I too look like a bouncer - 'sorry lads, regulars only.'

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Heh. I remember one night at a cabaret in Madame Jojo's, I was wearing notg an MA1 but full black tie and I kept getting taken for a bouncer. When I fidn thed time I'm going to sign up for some extras work - I suspect I'll be offered a lot of bouncer and football hooligan roles.

Funnily enough, the only person that ever actually took me for a skinhead was an actual skinhead fella in the pub. He was there for the Milwall game(!), but I think he was the ok sort as when he discovered I was a bald rockabilly rather than a skinhead (though the Harrington jacket, wider jeans - seems a lot of them grew out of the drainpipes as they got older - and stout lace-ups must have suggested otherwise), he was stil lfriendly enougth and we chatted briefly about liking the Specials.

bn1966 said:

Buzz cut here too reflect a bonce with not enough on top, I sport a large 'tache' & Stetson cap to avoid any skinhead / bouncer ID confusion. However I often drink with a crowd that includes Skinheads (not of the Nazi variety) & blend in well then

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Ernest P Shackleton said:

I never got the rundown on the skinhead jacket, braces, or shoelace colors and what all of them indicate. I wonder how many people got into some violence because they didn't know their hair style and jacket color were falsely announcing something about them.

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I've long had something of an admiration for the anti-Nazi skins who stuck with their look and fought against its usurpation. One of the last - alongside New Romantic and Goth - genuinely strong British youth cult looks that really made an impact. (I'm in agreement with John Waters that you have no movement without a 'look'!)

Doctor Damage said:

important point, that... not all skinheads are/were racist goons

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Indeed - and it all started (and for many continues) with very defiantly black music. How the far right cam into play in the UK is well covered in This is England.

Great photos! Someday, if the pound ever recovers against the dollar, I really fancy one of the Cockpit runs at the classic (1960) take on the MA1.