How Cockpit USA Became the USAF's Official A-2 Flight Jacket Supplier
- jamesjordan
- Jun 28
- 4 min read
In the world of military outerwear reproduction, there are hundreds of companies making jackets inspired by historical military designs. And then there is Cockpit USA — the company that makes the actual jackets worn by actual U.S. Air Force officers. That distinction is not a marketing claim. It is a government contract, and it means something.
The A-2's Complicated Post-WWII History
The A-2 flight jacket was discontinued by the Army Air Forces in 1943 — a decision that was widely unpopular with the aviators who had come to regard it as part of their identity. When the war ended, veterans returned home with their jackets, and those jackets became prized possessions. Surplus A-2s circulated through the following decades, slowly becoming rarer and more expensive.
When the newly independent U.S. Air Force was established in 1947, it inherited the Army Air Forces' uniform traditions — but the A-2 was not part of the initial uniform set. For decades, the A-2 existed only in memory and surplus stores. The Air Force had moved on to nylon jackets: the B-15, the N-2B, and eventually the MA-1, which became the dominant flight jacket of the Cold War era.
The Reagan-Era Revival
In the 1980s, the Air Force made an unusual decision: bring back the A-2. The reasons were partly practical — there was a desire for a dress-quality leather jacket for officers — and partly cultural. The A-2 represented the heritage of the service in a way that no nylon jacket could. In an era of renewed military pride under the Reagan administration, honoring that heritage made sense.
The revived A-2 specification was updated to use goatskin leather rather than the original horsehide, reflecting changes in leather supply and tanning technology. But the fundamental design remained faithful to the 1931 original: snap-down collar, knit wool cuffs and waistband, bi-swing back, slash front pockets, and the fitted silhouette that made the original jacket so functional and so good-looking.
Cockpit USA Wins the Contract
When the Air Force went to source its revived A-2, they needed a manufacturer that could meet military specifications — exact materials, construction standards, hardware requirements, and quality control that the military demands. Cockpit USA, a New York-based manufacturer with deep roots in military aviation jacket production, won that contract.
The designation as official USAF A-2 supplier is not a ceremonial title. It means that when Air Force officers purchase their A-2 through official channels, they are getting a Cockpit USA jacket. The same craftsmanship, the same materials, the same construction that goes into the uniform item also goes into the civilian versions Cockpit USA sells through retailers like Legendary USA.
What Military Specification Means for Quality
Military procurement specifications are not marketing documents. They are engineering documents — precise technical requirements that every component of the jacket must meet. The leather must have specific thickness, tensile strength, and finish characteristics. The thread must meet tensile and colorfastness requirements. The hardware must pass corrosion and pull-strength tests. The finished garment must pass dimensional inspection at every critical measurement point.
When Cockpit USA produces an A-2 to USAF specification, every one of those requirements is met. The civilian versions sold through Legendary USA are built on the same factory floor with the same standards. You are not buying a jacket inspired by what the Air Force wears. You are buying the same jacket.
Cockpit USA's American Manufacturing Heritage
Cockpit USA was founded with a specific mission: to produce authentic American military aviation jackets that honored the originals without compromise. That mission required American manufacturing — the skills, the materials sourcing, and the quality control infrastructure that keeping production domestic allows.
At a time when most leather jacket manufacturing had moved offshore, Cockpit USA maintained domestic production. That decision kept the quality high and kept the institutional knowledge — the specific skills required to properly construct a military-specification leather jacket — in American hands.
Getting a Cockpit USA A-2 Through Legendary USA
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cockpit USA really the official USAF A-2 jacket supplier?
Yes. Cockpit USA is the official supplier of A-2 flight jackets to the United States Air Force. Their civilian jackets are built to the same specifications.
When did the Air Force bring back the A-2 jacket?
The Air Force revived the A-2 as an approved officer uniform item in the 1980s after it had been discontinued in 1943 during WWII.
What leather does the modern USAF A-2 use?
The modern USAF A-2 specification uses goatskin leather, updated from the horsehide used in the original WWII-era versions.
Are the civilian Cockpit USA A-2 jackets the same as the military ones?
The civilian A-2 jackets sold by Cockpit USA are built to the same standards and on the same production line as their military versions. The quality is equivalent.
