Aviator sunglasses(also known as "Pilot shades") are a style of sunglasses that were developed by Ray-Ban.
They are characterized by dark, often reflective lenses having an area two or three times the area of the eye socket, and
metal frames with either paddles or wire temples which hook behind the ears.
Contemporary models are often polarized (although
wearing polarized sunglasses for flying is unwise since they may mask the light
glinting off an oncoming aircraft, as well as blocking the information on most
modern glass cockpit displays).
They
were given their name due to their oblique teardrop shape, which matched those
of the smoked-lens flying goggles which Ray-Ban was then selling to the Army
and Navy. One undesirable result of wearing these goggles was the mismatched
tan (darker on the face, lighter around the eyes) which developed.
Legend
claims that the need arose for aviator-style sunglasses because military pilots
found that sun and glare protection would be helpful to aid them during
day missions and dogfights. However,
pilots of the time did not wear sunglasses while flying. The popularity of the
glasses sky-rocketed as many celebrities began wearing the style of sunglasses.
The style has been popular since the 1960s, but became even more so in the
1980s following pop culture references concerning Michael Jackson and use by celebrities in films like Top Gun, where Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise sported them.
The
large lenses are not straight as in eyeglasses but bulge out slightly. The design attempts to cover the entire
range of the eye and prevent as much light as possible from entering the eye socket from
any angle. Aviators are popular with military and civilian aviators alike because they work quite well. Law
enforcement officers have also taken a liking to the glasses for many reasons including
their excellent cancellation of glare and prevention of eye contact. The design
was originally intended for shooting.
The
Aviator became a well-known style of sunglasses when General Douglas
MacArthur landed on the beach in
the Philippines in World War II. Photographers snapped several pictures of him wearing them for
newspapers, and Americans instantly fell in love with them.
Tom
Cruise made them famous again back in the 80's with "Top Gun”.
The
Ray-Ban Aviator has become one of the most copied styles in history.
The
Aviator Sunglasses was released in 1936 but these glasses were only available
to fighter pilots, and though there was talk at the time for public release, it
didn't happen until 1938.
