The Great Flight Jacket Thread (wearing/buying Leather, NOMEX, WEP jackets/patches)

[MasterBates]

Skeeter,

Back when you were Active Duty, what patches were normally put on the G-1?

Common in my community (HSL-HSM) is nametag only.

 

[Skeeterman]

MB, The Air Boss was very specific about loading up a flight jacket with patches. Three was the limit, plus the name tag...
Upper left arm.. Carrier Air Wing patch.
Upper right arm. Task Force 77 (combined with carrier name)
Right chest. Squadron patch.

However, if you flew fighter escort for another squadron, you could have their patch under the name tag. That is why the Navy had a uniform regulation.. the name tag had to be located 7-1/2" above the edge of the pocket flap, and 2-1/4" from the leather edge at the zipper. This allowed for a patch of 5" high for that area.
During my time in Vietnam. One could wear a flight jacket from all the squadrons the pilot had been billeted.

Most pilots were different, as was myself. We had a G-1 for each ship and squadron we were in.

About the time (1974) I retired, these regulations were thrown out the porthole.

 

[MasterBates]

Nowadays, you get 1 G-1 for your career.

Our XO lost his in the move to Mayport, and had to get a chit signed by the commodore to justify a replacement one.

I think the being issued only one jacket drives a lot of guys only wearing the nametag.

 

[Goober]

Almost looks like a leather version of the green nomex jacket....check the pockets.

Agreed...CWU-type pocket flaps, rounded collar points. G-1 remains the same (just not mouton/goatskin anymore).

 

[nittany03]

Nowadays, you get 1 G-1 for your career.

Our XO lost his in the move to Mayport, and had to get a chit signed by the commodore to justify a replacement one.

I think the being issued only one jacket drives a lot of guys only wearing the nametag.

That said, the relatively low quality of the issue one has driven many guys to augment their issue one with something better quality.

@Master: It's enough of a pain trying to get flight gloves replaced; I don't even want to think about losing my leather jacket . . .

 

[MasterBates]

@Master: It's enough of a pain trying to get flight gloves replaced; I don't even want to think about losing my leather jacket . . .

ON a slight threadjack, the custom gloves that I had ordered TWO YEARS AGO finally came in. Left is PERFECT. Right is tight, but better than the size 11s I have been carrying for emergency use.

I now return you to MasterBates' usual gloom & doom. I weep for the future as well.... (just got my soon to be ex's lawyer bill )

/threadjack

 

[jai5w4]

That said, the relatively low quality of the issue one has driven many guys to augment their issue one with something better quality.

Concur. The one's they are giving out down in P-Cola look like something off Wal-Mart's rack. That's IF you get one.

Well, I'm off to Wal-Mart...

 

[jai5w4]

Leather not supple. Stitching is rough and inconsistent. General 'fit and finish' is poor.

 

[KSUFLY]

I agree...the issued flight jackets look cheap and essentially they are. Think about it; they're made by the lowest bidder. I am really thinking about ordering one from here. They seem to have the best jackets I've seen plus they're goat skin and real mouton.

 

[Skeeterman]

Hey KSUFLY, Take my word for what it's worth. Don't order a flight jacket from Shaul Dover at US Authentic. I did last year, and it came with many "puckers" and he wouldn't take it back. So, I had American Express to refund my money, and Mr. Dover filed a small claims court, but the judge ruled he had no claim, and he had to except the jacket back.

I ordered from.. www.flightsuits.com . You pay $328.00 for a much better G-1, or a M-422a. The goatskin is perfect, and with real mouton collar. In fact, they will send you a jacket to try on. When you call ask for..Renne Hunter, or Jeremy Walters. You will be a much happier camper.

Skeeter.

 

[e6bflyer]

I am normally not one to plug certain brands on a forum, but Pop's Leather has really nice jackets, and they have a variety of custom stuff you can trick it out with. The prices are also reasonable for what you get. I have seen their work, and it is really nice.

 

[jai5w4]

I ordered from.. www.flightsuits.com . You pay $328.00 for a much better G-1, or a M-422a. The goatskin is perfect, and with real mouton collar. In fact, they will send you a jacket to try on. When you call ask for..Renne Hunter, or Jeremy Walters. You will be a much happier camper.

Skeeter.

Glad to hear that from you, Skeeter. That's the site I've been contemplating ordering from recently. Your endorsement is one of many I've read over the past few weeks whilst researching this purchase. Thanks for the additional information.

-jai5w4

 

[Brett327]

I am normally not one to plug certain brands on a forum, but Pop's Leather has really nice jackets, and they have a variety of custom stuff you can trick it out with. The prices are also reasonable for what you get. I have seen their work, and it is really nice.

I'll second the Pops endorsement.

Brett

 

[KSUFLY]

Hey KSUFLY, Take my word for what it's worth. Don't order a flight jacket from Shaul Dover at US Authentic. I did last year, and it came with many "puckers" and he wouldn't take it back. So, I had American Express to refund my money, and Mr. Dover filed a small claims court, but the judge ruled he had no claim, and he had to except the jacket back.

I ordered from.. www.flightsuits.com . You pay $328.00 for a much better G-1, or a M-422a. The goatskin is perfect, and with real mouton collar. In fact, they will send you a jacket to try on. When you call ask for..Renne Hunter, or Jeremy Walters. You will be a much happier camper.

Skeeter.

I actually ordered an A-2 from flightjackets.com back during my civilian flying days and it was a very nice jacket. In fact, I wasn't sure about the size I wanted and I wanted hand warmer pockets in the jacket which is considered "custom." So, they mailed me two jackets so I could try them on and then I called with the size I wanted and told them that I was mailing the two back and I had my "custom" jacket in the mail about five days later. I can only imagine that their G-1 is as nice as their A-2. The fake collar on the issue jacket just drives me nuts!!!

Thank you though on the info about flightsuits.com. I've come across that website many times and wondered how good they are. I'll definately look into it more and maybe get one from there. Thanks for the info... There's a lot of ****ty companies out their. Hate to hear that you got screwed by US Authentic.

 

[snake020]

Anyone order off of uswings.com?

http://www.uswings.com/g-1.asp#SSGoatG1