Pilot Costumes

Pilot Costumes

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Airplanes are among man’s finest achievements, and the men and women who control them as they streak across our skies are certainly remarkable. There is a certain romance about being able to take charge of the course of such huge machines, while being able to visit different places around the world – even if it’s only stopovers most of the time. There is little wonder then that pilot costumes are pretty popular among youthful and mature alike.

The dream of human flight has been around since pre-history. The story of Icarus and his wings is only a culmination of the thoughts and feelings of many, and we can only wonder of when humans first thought of flying. Since then advances have been made, and more than a fair few failures made along the way too.

Perhaps the most famous airplane is the Wright brothers’ test airplane. Though there have been successful flights prior to the Wright brothers’, what made them famous was the fact that it was the first powered, manned, controlled flight. Prior to their famous antics, no such combination had succeeded. There were manned flights, but usually by gliding and not by onboard power. Engine-powered flights did succeed before the Wright brothers, but there were no pilots or passengers on board.

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Truly, the works of Orville and Wilbur Wright revolutionized transportation. As more and more airplanes were built, more and more people became pilots. It was pretty touch and go at first, considering that learning to fly a plane was pretty much a baptism by fire. As flights started reaching higher altitudes, pilots noticed the need for better clothing. The first pilot outfits, which are also favored for costumery, were functional. These old-school pilot getups were meant to keep the pilot warm and dry. The leather helmets were worn mostly to keep the head warm, while goggles kept the eyes from drying out due to wind – remember that they had open cockpits back then. Military pilots back in those days wore more or less the same outfits as civilian pilots, with the main differences lying only in affiliation and rank patches.

During this period, a woman made a name for herself. Yes, that’s right – Amelia Earhart, the most famous female pilot. She made waves because there were few other women pilots in her time, and also because she was the first woman to fly a plane across the Atlantic Ocean. For trivia lovers out there, there is a term used for female pilots: “aviatrix”, as compared to the male “aviator”.

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Eventually enclosed cockpits were developed, which did reduce the need for heavy clothing a bit. As airplane development progressed, there became a much stronger distinction between military aircraft and civilian aircraft. Alongside this developing dichotomy came the differentiation of the pilots. Pilots of civilian aircraft dressed to command respect while maintaining comfort for flight, leading to the commercial pilot outfit we know today. Military pilots went for functionality, which is why their clothes are more technologically advanced, if less stylish.

Pilot costumes based on civilian outfits look very much like the standard coat and tie affair, whether for men or for women. What sets them apart from the mundane are the “wings”, which are like badges marking skill and authority, and of course the captain’s hat.

Military-style pilot costumes are mostly one-piece outfits, called jumpsuits. There are zippered pockets for secure storage of small items, and patches denoting the rank and affiliation of the pilot. Being baggy and often in drab colors, these getups are not going to win any awards for style, but they do their job of protecting the pilots. Completing the outfit is a pilot’s helmet.

Pick out a kids or adults size pilot costume today! There is a wide selection of styles to choose from!

Check out this Top Gun video: