Okay, I've been wondering this for a long time, but I've been too embarrassed to ask. I can't take it anymore...I have to know.
What in the blazes are those HUGE shoulder pads for on the flight-suits? You know, the Yellow and Black striped things? I come from an aviation background, and, for the life of me, can't come up with a reason. I thought they might be flotation devices, but in Macross Zero, you can clearly see those in addition to the shoulder pads. I thought maybe some sort of Ejection Seat protector...like they come down to cover the arms during an ejection. But the VF-11 has a capsule, and the pilot still wears the shoulder pads.
I know that part of the fun in any sci-fi 'verse (be it Star Trek, Star Wars, whatever) is coming up with "realistic" uses for things that are obviously just there to "look cool". But I can't come up with anything for the pads.
And yes, I realize the absurdity of arguing over shoulder pads in a world with jet fighters that turn into robots.