Pilot Supplies and Sunglasses

The Story Behind Aviator-Sunglasses.net

Welcome to our Aviator Sunglasses website, your source for the best sunglasses whether you are a pilot, sailor, outdoor sport enthusiast, veteran, or simply fascinated by aviator sunglasses. It is a way to make a statement, to let the world know that you are special, that you can do something no one else can do.

Our Founder

My name is John M. White, and I am the founder of Aviator-Sunglasses.net, and I make sure that every pair of sunglasses you see on our website, read in our blogs, videos you watch, or products you check out are the very best choices for you, our friends and customers.

Since I was a young boy, I have always been fascinated by airplanes and aviation. I remember going to the Monroe County Fair with my father and seeing my first airplane up close and personal. It was a V-Tail Beech Bonanza that someone had put on a rotating platform with its red collision light flashing in the dusk light.

In an instant, I knew I had to learn how to fly one of those!

Growing up I watched Sky King and Arthur Godfrey on tv flying airplanes. Naturally, once I graduated from high school, the first place I went to was to join the United States Air Force. That same day I whisked off to Cleveland, Ohio, for my physical. The next day I was at Lackland AFB, Texas in basic training.

I went through a battery of tests, and it turned out that I had a knack for languages. So, off to Syracuse University after basic training to learn Russian. A year later I spoke Russian just as though I had been born in Russia.

Next, I was sent to Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas. You see, when I was at Goodfellow AFB for training I discovered to my delight that they had a flying club, and that is where I took my first flying lesson. It was in a T-34, a two-seat military piston powered airplane. As luck happened, the base commander lost his medical certificate, sold the two T-34s, and closed the flying club.

But – I was hooked on learning how to fly! By the time I left Goodfellow AFB I had obtained my private pilot’s license by taking flying lessons from a local fixed base operator at the San Angelo, Texas airport.

My first exposure to aviator sunglasses was at the base PX where I discovered the  AO Original Pilot sunglasses and AO Generals which sold for about $ 20.00 a pair! A few years later I decided not to reenlist in the Air Force and headed home.

My military service completed, I attended Michigan State University which, as luck would have it, had a flying club called the Wing Spartans. By the time I graduated from MSU I had over 2,000 hours of flying time, an Airline Transport Pilot license, and my degree.

My first job after graduation was to teach students how to fly, to fly charter in a number of different aircraft, and I continued to fly the rest of my life.

Our Love Of Sunglasses

In my lifetime I have bought, broke, and used many different brands and styles of sunglasses over the years. This has helped me to become very familiar with the good, the bad, and the ugly sunglasses!

There is a reason why I am so confident in what I say about sunglasses, and that is because I am an old, bold, experienced pilot with over 8,000 hours of flying time in all kinds of airplanes, including the iconic Douglas DC-3, the Cessna Citation small business jet, the Piper Navajo Chieftain, and the beautiful Piper J-3 Cub – just to name a few.

About 20 years ago I began researching US based sunglass manufacturers, and have been a dealer for AO Eyewear, Randolph Engineering, Eagle Eye Optics, Flying Eyes, Method Seven, Scheyden, and Serengeti sunglasses. 

Initially, we became Authorized Retailers for Randolph Engineering and AO Eyewear, Inc. Over the years we have developed a close working relationship with these companies by visiting their plants and learning how their products are made.

We continue to seek out and represent additional sunglass and optical companies we find to be high quality with excellent customer service and support.

We now offer prescription lens services to fit the aviator sunglass frames we sell.

From the very beginning we have been driven to create a lasting business that not only provides our customers with great products, but also the information they need to make good decisions when purchasing a new pair of sunglasses.

Quality Aviator Sunglasses by a Trusted, Knowledgeable & Caring Staff

Here you will find the best-in-class aviator sunglasses, all of which are sure to please.

For over 60 years I have been flying airplanes, and to keep flying I need to keep my eyes and vision sharp and healthy. And, as a pilot, my most important asset is my eyes. That is why I have looked at, evaluated, and purchased a lot of sunglasses over the years. It is important that my eyes have the best protection possible.

I hope you have enjoyed this little trip through my history, and if you call, I will be sure to talk to you. Of course, we really enjoy talking to our Customers.

Here is an image of our small staff:

Today it seems that interaction between dealers and customers has become driven by AI, and the personal touch is slowly disappearing. Not here, though. We here are determined to provide first class individual and personal interactions with our customers.