--- title: "The best and worst Air Force uniforms, ranked" description: "The Air Force had a number of various uniforms even before its independent inception in 1947. The evolution was long and sometimes painful." date: "2021-10-25" modified: "2022-11-22" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/air-force-uniforms/" categories: - "Air Force" - "History" --- # The best and worst Air Force uniforms, ranked ![]() The Air Force had a number of various uniforms even before its independent inception in 1947. The evolution was a long and sometimes painful (on the eyes) one. Wear of Air Force uniforms is pretty important to airmen, and is governed by Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2903, [the only AFI most airmen know offhand](). It also contains uniform requirements for the Civil Air Patrol as if the Civil Air Patrol counts as the military... I mean, its nice that perfect attendance is required for your "basic training" but call us when the UCMJ applies to you. ![national guard photo]() *Wyoming Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Christian Venhuizen/Released)* The Air Force officially ended wear of olive green dress uniforms in 1952, switching over to distinct blue uniforms to stand out from the other services. In the years since, those "blues" (as they came to be called) evolved as times changed and as the Air Force itself changed. This served for most airmen, but for those who still required a utility uniform, green would be (and still is) the mainstay for those uniforms. But Air Force utility uniforms always incorporated a distinctive blue, in some way, over the years to ensure its separation from the Army and little else. The Air Force, like the Navy, appeared to be struggling with a uniform identity crisis in recent years, but it looks like they've got a handle on things. ![worst air force uniforms]() *This was almost you, Air Force.* The USAF came a long way, and so it's good to take a look back at the best and worst of what the Air Force thought was a good idea, lest history repeat itself. ## The Best Air Force Uniforms ### 1. Flight Suits - (1917- Present) The coolest looking and most comfortable uniform, the flight suit is easily the number one in the Air Force wardrobe. Early flight suits had the same needs as today's flight suits. Aircrews need warm clothing with pockets to keep things from falling out. Early flight suits required jackets, usually leather, to keep the pilots warm. The need for pressurized cockpits allowed the flight suit to become what it is today: flame resistant, comfortable, practical and still cool-looking. ![pilot air force uniforms]() *Seriously. Awesome. (USAF photo)* ### 2. Battle Dress Uniform (1981-2011) Maybe it's because I'm partial to the uniform I wore every day, maybe it's because the BDU is both comfortable and utilitarian, maybe because it's a uniform which was worn across all branches of the U.S. military. In my mind, the only bad thing about this uniform was the M-65 BDU field jacket, which worked against the cold every bit as well as any crocheted blanket, which is to say, not at all. There's a reason it was the longest-serving uniform. ![air force cammies]() *(USAF photo)* ### 3. Blue Shade 1084 & 1549 Service Dress Uniform (1962-1969) This is the one which became the iconic Air Force blues uniform after appearing in Stanley Kubrick's 1964 film *Dr. Strangelove.* An Air Force officer in the film, cigar-chomping Brig. Gen. Jack D. Ripper, acted and looked a lot like real life Air Force Gen. Curtis LeMay, who is famous for his hardline thinking. He was once quoted as saying: > "If I see that the Russians are amassing their planes for an attack, I'm going to knock the sh-t out of them before they take off the ground." ![dress air force uniforms]() *(USAF photo)* ### 4. Cotton Sateen Utility Uniform OG-107 (1952-1982) Army and Air Force personnel wore this both stateside and deployed to the Southeast Asia theater. It was replaced by the Tropical Combat Uniform in Southeast Asia but outside it continued to be the work uniform of choice through the 1970s when it was replaced by the woodland BDU. ![medal of honor etchberger]() *Medal of Honor Recipient Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger.* ### 5. SR-71 Pressure Suits (1966-1999) Its almost not even fair. They get to crew the greatest airframe ever designed AND look like an awesome alt-metal band in the process. ![pressure suits]() *Blackbird pilots 'bout to drop the most fire album of 1969. (Imgur)* ## The Worst Air Force Uniforms ### 6. Air Force PT Uniforms (2006- Present) Have you ever gone to the gym and wondered how much greater your workout could be if you did it while wearing swim trunks? The Air Force physical training uniform combines all the internal mesh of swim trunks to keep yourself in place with all the length of 1970s tennis player shorts to ensure you're not only uncomfortable working out but so is everyone who has to look at you. ![pt]() *(USAF photo)* ### 7. Air Force Band Drum Major I understand military tradition requires bands, but do we still have to make them dress like they should be guarding Queen Elizabeth? I wonder what possible purpose that giant hat served, even when it was a real part of a military uniform. Did the scepter ever serve a real purpose? And that sash looks makes him look less like an Air Force Chief and more like he's the WWE Intercontinental Champion. ![air force band]() *(USAF photo)* ### 8. Air Force Command Staff Ceremonial Uniforms (2012) In 2012, Gen. Mark Welsh III rolled out a new set of ceremonial uniforms for the Air Force Command Staff. Commenters from Air Force magazine were quick to crack jokes about the special uniforms: > "General Welsh looks like a Russian crown prince at an embassy ball. What is it? Come on, General LeMay would never wear that!!" > "It appears the general is or was a member of the Air Force Band." > "Exactly when did the AF adopt John Phillip Sousa's uniform as its own?" Air Force Times offered Welsh an opportunity to talk about the uniform, but he declined. ![ugly air force uniforms]() *Chief Roy looks like he has something to say about it, though. (Air Force archives)* ### 9. Air Force Summer Service Uniform (1956) ![summer air force uniforms]() *Photo source: Imgur* This one is so bad, it's hard to find evidence of it. It looked like your mailman earned rank and started maintaining aircraft. Yes, in the photo above even other airmen can't believe these guys are actually wearing Khaki shorts and a safari hat. Ladies usually love a man in [uniform](), but these guys will be single until they ditch those ugly things. ![air force uniforms]() *Otherwise known as the mailman starter kit uniform.* ### 10. Merrill McPeak Dress Blues The uniform was criticized for looking too much like the Navy's uniforms, like an airline pilot's uniform, or "a business suit with medals," it featured a white shirt and the signature clouds and lightning bolts (aka "Farts and Darts") on the sleeves of the jacket. McPeak's uniform was popular with absolutely no one but McPeak. These uniforms went away as soon as he did. ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()