Flight Jackets
aka Ace Jackets , Bomber Jackets, Fighter jackets are a an old Terran tradition that carried into the United Stars Navy (Fighter Wings) Few space faring civilizations have seen the need to develop small one person fighter craft. The very concept is alien to most but a few know civilizations. Neither the Ult, the Saran or the Pan Saran had developed anything like a space fighter craft. In the entire Galaxy, only the Nul, the Dai Than and the Terrans developed small attack craft and only the Terrans and the Dai developed an entire culture around it. Several civilizations have started fighter development after the value of such craft became apparent. While all Union Member species can be found in the ranks of the Fighter wing, the entire culture and traditions are of Terran origin. Only since 5017 after a substantial number of Dai Than joined the Union , are there some Dai traditions coming into the mix.
While there is no longer an Air Force and there never was a Union Air Force, there is the Union Space Fighter Command, technically a part of the Navy but under its own command structure with its own Academy and schools, the USFC and its members are a breed of its own. Fiercely proud, beings who fight in small space craft at incredible speeds in a hostile environment nature their warrior culture and idiosyncrasies like no other branch of the Service ( The Marines are a whole different kind altogether and not comparable). One of these traditions are the Leather Fighter Jackets with sewn on mission and unit patches. The swapping of patches and jackets is non regulated but still highly stylized and follows strict unwritten rules. The wearing of Fighter Jackets aboard Navy Ships and while on duty is actually considered a hazard, as the leather jackets are not Auto Dresser conform, but still they are “allowed” to be worn by any Fighter Jock. Not even Admiral Stahl would dare to issue an order in that regard (He wears one too occasionally) Fighter Jackets are highly prized and worn with an almost cocky pride.