The MA-1 from ALPHA INDUSTRIES is gaining attention again, and is gaining popularity as a good-cost, easy-to-wear model. In this issue, we pick up the features and snapshots of the most popular overseas outfits with the MA-1 of ALPHA INDUSTRIES as the theme!
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What is Alpha Industries?
ALPHA INDUSTRIES” is an apparel manufacturer established in the U.S. in 1954, and has been receiving orders from the U.S. Department of Defense to manufacture military jackets since it opened a factory in 1959. The company has been substantially responsible for the production of flight jackets used by U.S. land, sea, and air force pilots since the mid-1960s. To date, the company has produced a total of more than 40 million pieces of military jackets, including the MA-1, M-65, and N-3B. However, the majority of products currently on the market are town-use models for civilian use, which differ from the military standard (mil-spec), and in Japan, Edouin owns the license and is developing the business.
Alpha MA-1 features (1) “abrasion-resistant, colorful nylon twill and rescue orange lining.”
The MA-1 is the successor to the B-15, which is said to have been the first to use nylon material in human history, and was developed to allow fighter pilots to move easily even in cramped cockpits. The outshell is made of a soft, abrasion-resistant nylon twill, and the lining is reversible, so that it can be worn inside out in the event of a crash or other unforeseen circumstances. However, the rescue orange lining was not used on the early models, and was adopted on MA-1s manufactured after 1963, starting from J-8279. A few years later, the Vietnam War that broke out in November 1965 led to an explosion of orders from the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Alpha Industries MA-1 was steadfastly established as the most complete and popularized masterpiece in the history of flight suits.
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Alpha MA-1’s feature 2: “Cigar pocket and red tag
One detail of the Alpha MA-1 that has been carried over from its initial development as the successor to the B-15 to this day is the zippered cigarette pocket on the left arm that can hold an emergency kit or cigarettes. The zipper pull of this pocket usually has a red tag attached to it, which is a safety device to prevent missiles and bombs on board fighter planes from accidentally firing, and is marked “REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT.
Alpha MA-1’s feature #3: “Short length silhouette designed for narrow cockpits
The compact, short-length silhouette designed for the narrow cockpits of fighter planes is also a characteristic of the Alpha MA-1. The modernized style omits the mouton collar inherited from the B-10, and instead features ribbed sleeves and hem for superior wind and cold protection. In addition, the shortened length makes it easier to check various complicated instruments, and the compact silhouette contributes greatly to the improved performance of fighter piloting.
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Here we pick up some of the most notable international wearers of the Alpha MA-1!
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