Bomber, aviator, flight jacket: the words get mixed up, but the three classic military patterns they come from are easy to tell apart once you know what to look for. This guide explains the A-2, the B-3 and the G-1, where each came from, how they differ, and which one makes sense for your climate and wardrobe.
The quick version
- A-2: a lightweight leather flight jacket with a shirt collar, knit cuffs and hem, and two flap pockets. The all-rounder.
- B-3: a heavy shearling (wool-on sheepskin) jacket with a big fur collar and buckle straps. The winter jacket.
- G-1: the Navy's version of the A-2, with a fur collar, a bi-swing back and a different pocket layout. The one from Top Gun.
The A-2 flight jacket
Adopted by the US Army Air Corps in 1931, the A-2 was issued to pilots who flew in enclosed or partly enclosed cockpits where a heavy jacket was not needed. It was made from horsehide or goatskin in seal brown or russet, with a snap-down shirt collar, a front zip under a wind flap, knitted wool cuffs and waistband, and two patch pockets with snap flaps. There were no hand-warmer pockets, which is why pilots often added them later.
Modern A-2s keep the shape and usually use cowhide or goatskin. Ours are cut in antique brown cowhide with a quilted lining. The A-2 is the easiest flight jacket to wear every day: it is light, it sits at the hip, and it works with jeans, chinos and boots. See the A-2 and Heritage bombers in our bomber and aviator collection.
The B-3 shearling bomber
The B-3 was built for bomber crews flying at altitude in unheated, unpressurised aircraft, where the temperature could drop far below freezing. It is made entirely from shearling, sheepskin tanned with the wool left on, worn wool-side in. The outside is usually finished in dark brown or black; the inside is thick, cream-coloured fleece. A large fur collar with two buckle straps closes it around the neck, and the cuffs and hem are shearling too.
A B-3 is heavy and very warm. It is not a jacket for a mild autumn day, and it is bulky under the arms by design. In a cold climate, there is nothing better. Our Arlesey B3 and the shearling bikers and aviators are in the shearling collection.
The G-1 naval flight jacket
The G-1 descends from the Navy's M-422 jacket of 1940. It looks like an A-2 at first glance but has three distinctive features: a mouton (sheepskin fur) collar, a bi-swing back with pleats behind the shoulders for movement, and side-entry hand pockets behind the patch pockets. It was made in goatskin, which gives it the pebbled grain that A-2 enthusiasts can spot across a room.
The G-1 became famous as Maverick's jacket in Top Gun, patches and all. Without the patches, it is a quiet, versatile brown leather jacket with a fur collar that adds warmth the A-2 lacks. Our fur-collar bombers in dark brown leather follow this pattern.
Side by side
| A-2 | B-3 | G-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service | Army Air Corps / USAAF | USAAF bomber crews | US Navy and Marines |
| Material | Horsehide, goatskin, now cowhide | Shearling (wool-on sheepskin) | Goatskin |
| Collar | Leather shirt collar, snaps | Large shearling collar, buckle straps | Mouton fur collar |
| Cuffs and hem | Knit | Shearling | Knit |
| Pockets | Two snap-flap patch pockets | Two slash pockets | Two flap pockets plus hand-warmers |
| Back | Plain | Plain | Bi-swing pleats |
| Weight | Light | Very heavy | Light to medium |
| Warmth | Three season | Deep winter | Three season, warmer neck |
Other names you will see
Bomber jacket is now used for any jacket with knit cuffs and hem, including nylon MA-1 styles. Aviator jacket usually means a shearling-collar leather jacket in the B-3 or G-1 family. Flight jacket is the umbrella term. B-6 is a lighter version of the B-3 with a smaller collar, worth knowing if you want shearling warmth without the full weight.
Which one should you buy?
- Mild to cool climate, everyday wear: A-2. It is the most versatile and the easiest to layer.
- Cold winters, short walks, no bulk concerns: B-3. Nothing else is as warm.
- Cool climate, want a fur collar without the bulk: G-1 style or a faux-fur-collar bomber.
- Riding: A-2 or G-1 in cowhide or goatskin. A B-3 is too bulky and the shearling collar catches wind. Read fashion jacket vs riding jacket first.
Fit notes
A-2s and G-1s are cut short and boxy with knit hems that sit at the hip; wear them close with room for a shirt or thin knit. B-3s are sized to be worn over a sweater, and the shearling lining already takes up room, so choose your usual size and do not size down. Check sleeve length on all three; the knit cuff should sit at the wrist bone. Our size guide has the garment measurements.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bomber jacket the same as an A-2?
The A-2 is the original leather bomber. Today "bomber" covers many jackets with the same knit-cuff silhouette in leather, nylon or wool.
Are B-3 jackets real sheepskin?
Traditional ones are. Ours use real sheepskin with a shearling or faux-shearling lining; the product page states which.
Which flight jacket is best for women?
All three come in women's cuts. Shearling aviators and cropped bombers are the most popular; see women's leather jackets.