Bomber and Flight Jackets
What Is an Aviator Jacket?
What an aviator jacket is: the sheepskin collar, straps and lining, how it differs from bomber and flight jackets, whether it suits winter, and how to fit one.
An aviator jacket is a short leather or sheepskin jacket based on early military flying jackets, recognized by its wide fur or sheepskin collar, buckled straps and warm lining. The name is used in two ways. Some people use it for any flight jacket, while fashion writers and many shops use it for the shearling-collar style in particular.
Aviator jackets grew out of the flight jacket. This page is part of our bomber and flight jackets guide.
Key takeaways- The look comes from sheepskin flying jackets such as the RAF's Irvin and the U.S. B-3.- Its signature is a big collar that turns up and straps closed against the wind.- Sheepskin flying jackets are counted among the warmest flight jackets.- It is heavier and roomier than a nylon bomber, so fit it with your winter layers on. That is our fitting advice, not a sourced rule.
Aviator jacket meaning: two uses of one name
In the broad sense, "aviator jacket" is just another name for a flight jacket. The MA-1, for example, is sold as both a bomber and a flight jacket, and the names overlap.
In the narrow, fashion sense, it means a specific style. Miolook's fashion dictionary describes short outerwear with a wide turn-down collar fully covered in fur or sheepskin, wide leather straps with metal buckles, and a length to the hips or just above. Leather Collection uses the word the same way, naming its shearling bombers "aviator" jackets.
We could not read a dictionary entry for the term, so this page uses the narrow meaning and says where the broad one applies.
The features that make an aviator jacket
Length is the one point where descriptions differ. The Imperial War Museums describe the Irvin as short-waisted, while Miolook puts the fashion aviator at the hips or just above.
| Feature | What it does | Where it comes from | Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide fur or sheepskin collar | Turns up to cover the neck and lower face | RAF Irvin jacket | – |
| Straps and buckles | Close the collar; snug the cuffs and waist | Irvin jacket; fashion versions keep them | – |
| Sheepskin or shearling body | Warmth; wool inside, suede side usually out | Irvin and B-3 | – |
| Heavy zip | Keeps wind out | Irvin jacket's brass zip | – |
| Short body | Easy to sit in | Irvin's short-waisted cut | – |
| Few or no pockets (originals) | Pockets were on the trousers and uniform | Irvin jacket | – |
Aviator vs bomber vs flight jacket
Even makers find the names slippery. Aero Leather calls "bomber jacket" a loosely defined umbrella term. For the other two styles in full, read what a bomber jacket is and types of bomber jackets.
| Column 1 | Aviator (shearling style) | Classic bomber (MA-1 style) | Leather flight jacket (A-2 style) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main material | Sheepskin or shearling | Nylon with polyester interlining | Horsehide, cowhide or goatskin |
| Collar | Wide fur or sheepskin, often strapped | Knit | Leather shirt-style |
| Cuffs and hem | Buckled straps | Ribbed | Knit wool |
| Warmth | Among the warmest | Intermediate, year-round | Between the two (our view) |
What does "blouson" mean?
The word often sits next to aviator jackets, as in the French "blouson aviateur." A blouson is a jacket drawn tight at the waist so the body blouses out over the waistband; the style came from mid-20th-century military uniforms.
So the difference between a blouson and other jackets is the gathered waist. A bomber with a ribbed hem is a blouson; a straight-cut coat is not.
Is an aviator jacket good for winter?
Yes, if it is real sheepskin. Shearling flight jackets such as the B-3 are counted among the warmest flight jackets. Leather Collection notes that a B-3 style shearling jacket has fur on the inside, which traps body heat.
It was built for worse than a city winter. The Irvin jacket was designed because open cockpits and higher-flying aircraft exposed pilots to dangerous cold.
How an aviator jacket should fit
These are our fitting suggestions; we have no measured study behind them.
- Try it on over a sweater. A sheepskin jacket is thick, and you will wear it in cold weather.
- Close the collar. Fasten the collar straps; they should meet without pulling at your throat.
- Check the hem. Short-waisted or at the hip both fit the style. Sit down; the jacket should not ride far up your back.
- Check the sleeves. Reach forward. The cuff should still cover the wrist.
For outfit ideas, see how to wear a bomber jacket, how to wear a men's bomber jacket and women's bomber jacket outfit ideas.
Where the name comes from
The aviator jacket traces back to the sheepskin flying jacket. Leslie Irvin designed the classic version, and the British Air Ministry approved it for pilots in 1932. The U.S. B-3 used the same idea; Aero Leather dates its design to World War II, while Miolook says it appeared in 1934.
The full story is in the history of the aviator jacket.
Getting an aviator jacket
Leather Collection men's leather bomber jackets include aviator shearling and B-3 shearling styles, hand-stitched and offered in a custom size. Some offer a lambskin shearling or artificial fur option. The women's range includes fur collar bombers in black, brown and camel.
Related guides
- For the color question, read bomber jacket colors and how to choose one.
FAQ
What is an aviator style?
It is the look of early sheepskin flying jackets: a short jacket with a wide fur or sheepskin collar, straps and buckles, and a warm lining.
Is an aviator jacket the same as a bomber jacket?
Sometimes. The names overlap, and the B-3 sheepskin jacket was itself called a "bomber jacket". In fashion use, a bomber usually means a nylon or leather jacket with a ribbed collar, cuffs and hem, while an aviator has the big fur collar.
Are aviator jackets still in fashion in 2026?
Vogue wrote in February 2026 that bombers have become a coveted wardrobe staple and listed shearling among the materials. We found no source that tracks the aviator style on its own.
leatheride Editorial Team
leatheride articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.