The Flight Jacket Thread

[heBAY]

Me too...I just asked Chicken the same thing in regards to fit for a guy who's pretty broad-shouldered, 6'1", though slimly built (not necessarily SuFu slim...I'm more like 170 lbs).

[Chicken]

Chicken - Thanks. I don't have a picture of my two favorite repro(s): my RMNZ M-422a, which is five years old and looking fantastic, or my RMJ B-10 Stagg. Both of which are not too short for t-shirts, which is partially why I love them so much, and the mouton collars are too cool. Regarding Length, the next A-2 I will get is a Dubow model from Goodwear - John Chapman (the owner and current sole maker of all of the jackets) will gladly make one long enough in the body for me, and his leather and details are all about as accurate as owning a NOS original. Not to mention as they are made in the USA no customs hit on shipping...

-Jake

thanks for another sweet info. please post pics when available.

[jake431]

Thank you!

That's the issue too...which model...???USAAF or original contract etc....too many choices...

My opinion? Stick to their 1938, 1940 and 1942 models. You can pick the hides anyway - so if you want a real deal mismatched type hide, or a smooth russet type hide, whatever you choose, they will accomodate you. The real deal is a good choice if you know you want their 1942 contract and want an authentically luck of the draw type jacket (i.e. it's 1943 and you've just arrived from Bombardier school - "here's your jacket butterbar!"), but most of us, given the money spent, have a hard time being so laissez-faire about it.

-Jake

[dave023]

My opinion? Stick to their 1938, 1940 and 1942 models. You can pick the hides anyway - so if you want a real deal mismatched type hide, or a smooth russet type hide, whatever you choose, they will accomodate you. The real deal is a good choice if you know you want their 1942 contract and want an authentically luck of the draw type jacket (i.e. it's 1943 and you've just arrived from Bombardier school - "here's your jacket butterbar!"), but most of us, given the money spent, have a hard time being so laissez-faire about it.

-Jake

Once again thank you!

Last question, what are the major differences between the 1938/1940 and 1942 models?

[heBAY]

Definitely, thanks Jake.

[jake431]

Once again thank you!

Last question, what are the major differences between the 1938/1940 and 1942 models?

1938 Contract - Pre-war contract with top stitching on all of the knit parts (all Navy flight jackets have top stitched knit parts, but on A-2's it dissapears), a riveted zipper attachment at zipper bottom and a collar stand type construction. It's the narrowest in the shoulders and trimmest overall jacket.

1940 Contract - Pre-war contract, but without top-stitching on all of the knit parts, a non riveted zipper attachment. It does retain the collar stand constuction and is somewhat narrow in the shoulders and trim, though not as much as the 1938 model. Photographic evidence suggests that Chennault wore a 1940 Aero contract though this is hardly incontrivertable.

1942 Contract - Wartime contract, simplified for mass construction for the 1000's of airman graduating from flight school (contrary to popular belief all aircrew got A-2's, gunners, pilots, navigators and so on, not just the officers). No top stitching, normal zipper attachment and no collar stand. It's the widest and least trim of their jackets.

One caveat - all Aero A-2's are wider in the shoulder (and have unauthentic long epaulets) than their wartime jackets they reproduce. However, properly sized, they are not "wrong" looking.

-Jake

[dave023]

1938 Contract - Pre-war contract with top stitching on all of the knit parts (all Navy flight jackets have top stitched knit parts, but on A-2's it dissapears), a riveted zipper attachment at zipper bottom and a collar stand type construction. It's the narrowest in the shoulders and trimmest overall jacket.

1940 Contract - Pre-war contract, but without top-stitching on all of the knit parts, a non riveted zipper attachment. It does retain the collar stand constuction and is somewhat narrow in the shoulders and trim, though not as much as the 1938 model. Photographic evidence suggests that Chennault wore a 1940 Aero contract though this is hardly incontrivertable.

1942 Contract - Wartime contract, simplified for mass construction for the 1000's of airman graduating from flight school (contrary to popular belief all aircrew got A-2's, gunners, pilots, navigators and so on, not just the officers). No top stitching, normal zipper attachment and no collar stand. It's the widest and least trim of their jackets.

One caveat - all Aero A-2's are wider in the shoulder (and have unauthentic long epaulets) than their wartime jackets they reproduce. However, properly sized, they are not "wrong" looking.

-Jake

I think I'd go for a 1942 model just on the wider fit.

Thank you!

[jake431]

This jacket right here is my dream winter coat. Buzz Rickson's B-2:

Shame it's about $1200. Still I can dream.

-Jake

[dave023]

This jacket right here is my dream winter coat. Buzz Rickson's B-2:

Shame it's about $1200. Still I can dream.

-Jake

Simply gorgeous!

[jake431]

Here's History Preservation Associates porn pictorial for the BR B-2. I must have it. Someday...

-Jake

[jake431]

Found a couple of old pics of some flight jackets. All these pictures are old and I was going through an unfortunate blond phase at the time. My apologies.

Real McCoy's NZ M-422a. I still have this coat it looks much better now beat up:

Buzz Rickson B-15b(MOD). I sold this one when I lost some weight.

RMJ B-10 Stagg. Don't ask about the face I'm making, I couldn't tell you what it is.

-Jake

[red]

nice fits!

i just tried on about 20 different flight jackets tonight, and just about all of them were too short.

[jake431]

nice fits!

i just tried on about 20 different flight jackets tonight, and just about all of them were too short.

What type of flight jacket are you looking for? A lot of them can be too short. I'd stick to Navy jackets - especially the earlier models (originals or repros of originals) - they tend to be the longest in to the waist. Although my Real McCoys Japan B-10 is long enough. Honestly, it's not the length really, it's the knit waist that creates a defined waist. If you were to measure an A-2 it would probably be as long or longer as a Levis Type 3 or any other jean jacket, but the bottom knit being their creates the appearance of the jackets being even shorter than they are.

-Jake

[cheep]

heres mine... thrift pickup

[jake431]

Nice pickup, cheep - looks like a recent G-1 in good condition. Does the collar feel like real of fake fur?

-Jake

[cheep]

fake... the cuffs need to be replaced, but besides that its great. fits like a glove.

inside tag is gone.

[jake431]

If the fur is fake, it's likely to be an "e" series jacket. The cuffs look from the pics like you may be able to darn them rather than replace for now. But if not, contact Gibson and Barnes (Flightsuits) - they have good all wool replacement cuffs. You also might be able to get the collar replaced with some real mouton if you want. A lot of people pick up old mouton coats on the cheap and cut them up to use as replacement collars; probably wouldn't cost much.

-Jake

[cheep]

yeah, thanks for the info. the only good thing about living in a navy town is the abundance of cheap used mil gear. navy issue pea coats sell around 7$ each at thrift stores here, and i paid 50 for the jacket. ive even found a navy issue snorkel with real fur on the hood for under 10$!!

[jake431]

That's pretty good prices - Navy issue pea coats are 5 to 10 times that much in Chicago. If you ever see an older issue 4 button (instead of the current 3 button style) pea coat in a big size (like 44), pm me, I'd be all over that shit.

[cheep]

ill let you know... only one i know of now looks like a wwII with gold buttons... but its 80$. your size tho...

[jake431]

I think the gold button ones are bridge coats or some such - not strictly pea coats. While I could replace the buttons, if it's authentic I wouldn't really feel right doing so...good lookin' out though!

-Jake

[andewhall]

The Real McCoys NZ guys are in my town, which surprised me. Might have to shoot down there and check them out.

[Chicken]

^ ooh! pics pleaze!

would love to see what it's like there.

[andewhall]

Haha, will see what I can do. Just looked in the phone book and they don't have an address listed, but think its in the same industrial area as this company I sometimes get leather patches done, his business is called natural wear leather, they make really nice biker jackets.....he was showing me the black leather jeans they make last time I was in there. There is about 3-4 leather manufacturers all in the space of a couple blocks.

[jake431]

I'm pretty sure I have an envelope with their return address on it - I'll see if I can find it in the morning.

-Jake

[jake431]

Haha, will see what I can do. Just looked in the phone book and they don't have an address listed, but think its in the same industrial area as this company I sometimes get leather patches done, his business is called natural wear leather, they make really nice biker jackets.....he was showing me the black leather jeans they make last time I was in there. There is about 3-4 leather manufacturers all in the space of a couple blocks.

Here you go - I found an online link with address and map to their offices.

-Jake

[Chicken]

More recently our clothing has been used in the making of the Stephen Spielberg/Tom Hanks TV epic " Band of Brothers" and also in another wartime movie (due for release 2001) starring Bruce Willis.

looks like they haven't updated the info in a while, though.

[jake431]

Their website is similarly out of date. It's not the best face to put forward to the world but fortunately, flight jacket nerds are a cultish breed and through word of mouth render a lot of the damage their bad website might do to potential sales to a minimum.

-Jake

[Charlie Delta]

x-post from superdenim jackets thread:

My sheepskin bomber.

Picked it up thrifting early this winter, just when I was looking for a new winter coat.

Got a pretty good deal on it aswell, especially for how warm it keeps me.

It's based on what's commonly referred to as a B-3, but isn't an exact repro by far.

Go here (halfway down the page) to see some real B-3's. As you can see, the basic shape is the same but the most obvious differences are that the original didn't have handwarmer pockets but only one map pocket and also used different types of leather.

Needless to say that I love it!

As it was a little on the short side on me, and I'm my bike daily and wanted to prevent a very cold lower back I decided to add extra ribbing to it.

I wanted to keep it in style with the jacket as much as possible and after trying to stitch it on and breaking my machine on the thick sheepskin (durrrrrrr....) I had to handstitch it on.

My battery died right in the middle of taking these pictures.

I can take more if people are dieing to see more....

[Brienneoftarth]

just picked up a real nice RRL a-2 inspired jacket on ebay for 250 bucks. Figured it was a cheap and nice alternative to dropping some major cash on a flight jacket. I have a buzz rickson b15c as well.