Started by Ed Land in Kansas in 1959 Flite Wear by Land MFG would become widely known for making the flight jackets worn by NASA and other test pilots. Ed was initially employed by Fruhauf, a band uniform company and sometime maker of small batch flying clothing for the Air Force and aircraft manufacturers. When the Fruhauf owners threw away a government contract wanting to focus on band uniforms, Ed would take the contract out of the bin and found Land MFG, and it's brand Flite Wear. Flite Wear would most famously make the jackets worn by Astronauts of the Apollo era, but also manufactured for many of the aircraft makers of the age.
This example is a rare insulated winter version, and was almost certainly made for Northrop - of the two others I've been both are patched to Northrop. Externally it's very similar to an L-2B, except as you may have noticed, in bright Indian Survival Orange. Internally it's a little different, with a thick pile fur lining which is remarkably warm. I'm not sure these were entirely designed to be reversible, but the zipper certainly is, so you can wear it teddybear style with the pile facing out.
A very very similar jacket was worn by NASA legend Al Shepard when going through training for Apollo 14 in Arizona in 1970 as pictured.
Condition
Excellent condition, a few light marks to the shell, but likely would clean out with a good dry clean. Conmar zippers all work perfectly and knits are perfect. One tiny cauterised hole in the sleeve.
Size
- Tagged a medium regular
- Fits medium/large
- Pit to pit 24"
- Shoulder to shoulder (approx raglan) 18"
- Shoulder to cuff (approx raglan) 24"
- Collar to hem 25"