Aviator Glasses
What I love about eyewear right now is that anything goes. In the 80s it was big, huge glasses, in the 90s it was little small wired glasses, but right now you can’t go wrong - it’s whatever floats your boat.
Aviators though, are a classic that have stood the test of time. So I want to give you a little bit of history on them, so when you next see a pair - you can show off your eyewear knowledge ;-)
It’s geek out time because there are actually different types of “aviators”:
The G-2: Introduced during World War II, featured large, teardrop-shaped lenses designed to provide extensive coverage and protection against sunlight at high altitudes. They were made famous my General Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur's use of aviators cemented them as a timeless symbol of power and sophistication, later popularised by other figures in aviation, the military, and pop culture (think Tom Cruise in the film Top Gun).
General Douglas MacArthur
MacArthur wore the Bausch & Lomb Ray-Ban aviators. The brand name was bought my the luxury eyewear conglomerate Luxottica in 1999 where the style continues to be in fashion today.
The HGU-4/P: In 1958, the U.S. Air Force adopted the HGU-4/P aviators. This model featured semi-rectangular lenses that were lighter and had less surface area compared to the G-2, making them more suitable for the evolving flight helmets. The design included bayonet temples, allowing the sunglasses to fit comfortably under helmets equipped with visors and oxygen masks.
Astronauts Pete Conrad & Gordon Cooper donning their aviators after their successful Gemini 5 Mission in 1965 where they had just set a record for the longest time in Space. Interestingly, aviator glasses were the first glasses on the moon! They were worn by Neil Armstrong, although the frame had a 23K carat gold plating - gold is highly resistant to corrosion, tarnishing, and oxidation.
So which design should you pick?
If you have “single vision” lenses i.e. not varifocals or bifocals, the simple answer is - it does nay matter! However, if you need varifocals or bifocals - go with the “HGU-4/P”. This shape is better suited because the original G-2 style cuts off a lot of the reading area due to its tear drop shape, whereas the HGU-4P has a more evenly balanced shape.
Furthermore, the HGU has “bayonet” temples, (a design feature in eyewear where the temple arms - the parts that extend over the ears are straight and curve slightly inward), this is great if you go out on your bike as they slip on under a helmet. This design is also useful if you are sensitive to slight pressure behind the ears where traditional frame temples angle down over.
I could bang on more about aviators, as I have traced the first ‘aviator’ design back to Victorian times in England, but that’s a story for another day. Right, I best get back to some eye tests!