穿搭MA-1飛行外套前一定要知道的事 | Things you should know about MA-1 Flight Jacket

February 1, 2020

天天氣開始轉涼，有沒有想過換上軍褸迎接秋冬呢？

Winter is coming.

近年MA-1掀起熱潮，秋冬的街上不難見到這件經典的尼龍飛行外套。這件外套到底有什麼特別呢？

The MA-1 had gotten quite a bit of attention in the past years and it is not difficult to spot them on the streets. What’s about the fad?

MA1 hk

Mr. S (left, in B-15) and Mr. M (right, in MA-1)

歷史上，MA-1初次登場於1950年代，取代了上一代的B-15飛行外套。當時飛行員正面對Jet Age (噴射機時代)所帶來的改變，飛得更高、更快的同時，舊有的外套設計已經無法再滿足和保護當時的飛行員 ─ MA-1便應運而生。MA-1首次使用了具彈性的領口，和過往B-15等外套的設計分別較大；用料上MA-1的尼龍亦非常光滑，既舒適既能做到一定程度的防水防風。

To talk about MA-1 we must first talk about its history. The MA-1 made its first debut in the 1950s, replacing the B-15s. As pilots face challenges in extreme environments due to the Jet Age, the old designs could no longer properly protect and serve the pilot operating in height and speed. That’s why the MA-1 seemed a bit different than it’s predecessors, with its flexible collar instead of a fluffy one. The nylon used on the MA-1 is also noticeably smooth and silk-like, giving it unprecedented comfort and a certain degree of waterproof and windproof property.

自1963年開始，Alpha Industries就開始承辦軍方MA-1的生產，及後開始對世界各地的出口。直到今天，Alpha Industries仍然在生產著各式獨特的MA-1，從經典的軍綠款到如白色NASA配章款等的特別款式。新式的MA-1基於最原本的設計上作出了不少改善，如加入其他材料使袖口更耐用等，但最基本的外型還是沒有大改變的。有趣的是：最原祖的顏色並非軍綠色，而是當時美國空軍指定的暗夜藍，加上高可見度的橙色內層，萬一飛機墜毀時作求救用；直到韓戰越戰時期，為了在墜機事件發生時機師能在林木中更好地隱匿，軍綠色MA-1正式大量投入生產。

Ever since 1963, Alpha Industries had been responsible for manufacturing MA-1 bomber jackets, and started exported MA-1 all over the world. From the timeless classic Sage Green[/URL] to special editions like the White MA-1 with NASA patches. Ever since the MA-1’s debut, several practical changes have been made to it, like mixing new material into the flexible parts to make it more durable, but the overall appearance hadn’t been altered much. On a side note, the classic sage green MA-1 which was designed to provide better camouflage in vegetation for pilots who fell from the sky, is actually not the original colour of it. The MA-1 was first produced in midnight blue, with a high-vis orange lining that could be used for easier identification of pilot in aircraft crashes. The sage green MA-1s did not make the majority of MA-1 deployed in the forces until the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

經典的軍綠 Sage MA1 flight jacket 款 [URL=https://www.3armystore.com/products/alpha-ma-1-flight-jacket-sage]

black ma1 hk

經典的全黑款 [URL=https://www.3armystore.com/products/alpha-ma-1-flight-jacket-black]

NASA ma1 hk

NASA配章款[URL=https://www.3armystore.com/products/nasa-ma-1-flight-jacket-white]

Apollo NASA配章款[URL=https://www.3armystore.com/products/apollo-ma-1-flight-jacket-black]

mA1 history

Majors John Revak (left, in L-2B) and Stan Goldstein (right, in MA-1), US Airforce

假如MA-1對你來說太厚，也可以考慮一下款式的飛行外套！相似於MA-1的外型，但比MA-1薄很多，設計原意也是為了在較熱的地區穿著。L-2B可能會較適合入秋時分，MA-1則較適合寒冬。此外，亦有MA-1 Slim, L-2B Scout等為平民市場而設的款式，每個人都能找到適合自己的款式和大小，不論哪款也好，Alpha Industries都有提供高質素而舒適的選擇。

If the MA-1 seemed a bit overkill for you, especially in the “Hong Kong Weather”, the L-2B could also serve you nicely, with a near-identical design to the MA-1, but way lighter, which is exactly the original purpose of the L-2B – to serve in warmer areas. In addition, styles like the MA-1 Slim, the L-2B Scout that were made for the civilian market also provides an even wider range of choices for everyone looking for a nylon bomber jacket. Regardless, be it the MA-1 or the L-2B, Alpha Industries offer a wide variety of styles in the best quality.

L-2B original