For over six decades, the Original Pilot has been the iconic sunglasses of American pilots. Designed in 1958 by American Optical at the request of the U.S. Air Force, they were developed under the name Flight Goggle 58 (HGU-4/P), succeeding the Aviator G2, which had equipped American pilots during World War II. Meeting strict military requirements, these sunglasses feature an ultra-durable steel frame with straight temples specifically designed for optimal comfort under a helmet and to minimize the risk of injury in case of impact. Their 20 mm nose bridge allows for easy wear with an oxygen mask, while their True Color Gray mineral lenses ensure faithful color perception—an essential advantage for target or object acquisition during flight. On July 20, 1969, the Original Pilot made history as the first sunglasses to go to the Moon, worn by the Apollo 11 crew. Since then, they have remained the top choice for astronauts, pilots, and aviation enthusiasts worldwide. Color : Gold, Silver, Black or Matte Silver Style : Aviator, unisex Sold with a case and microfiber cloth. Handcrafted in the USA Buying from The All American Shades guarantees that you are purchasing products stocked in France, which will not be subject to customs duties or additional VAT for all orders shipped to a country within the European Union. AOLite Nylon & Skymaster Glass – True Color Gray AOLite™ lenses are extremely lightweight and impact-resistant. SkyMaster™ glass lenses offer superior clarity and scratch resistance. Their chromatically tuned True-Color™ Gray tint reduces eye strain in high-brightness conditions. Also available in a polarized version. 100% UVA/UVB protection Anti-reflective backside coating Oleophobic smudge-resistant coating Impact-resistant (compliant with ANSI Z80.3) Scratch-resistant hardcoat Lightweight for optimal comfort (Nylon) Distortion-free for optical clarity (Glass) AOLite Nylon & Skymaster Glass – Calobar Green AOLite™ lenses are extremely lightweight and impact-resistant. SkyMaster™ glass lenses offer superior clarity and scratch resistance. Their chromatically tuned Calobar™ Green tint provides true color perception for natural vision. Also available in a polarized version. 100% UVA/UVB protection Anti-reflective backside coating Oleophobic smudge-resistant coating Impact-resistant (compliant with ANSI Z80.3) Scratch-resistant hardcoat Lightweight for optimal comfort (Nylon) Distortion-free for optical clarity (Glass)
