Warbird Information Exchange

Anyone has a suggestion for leather flight jacket? The kind and where to get them cheap with good quality? Personally, I prefer A2, G1, Flying Tigers style and the one that Tom Cruise wears in Top Gun. That will be all.

Hmmm......I'm afraid good quality and cheap don't match when it comes to leather flight jackets.

For cheap ones almost any mil surplus store will have large stocks of inaccurate A2/G1 'style' jackets, if that's what you want....

On the other hand for a high quality detailed repro, there are a few places around the world that make rather nice authentic jackets.
My personal choice would be Eastman as the pick of the bunch, see link below.....


http://www.eastmanleather.com/

I'm afraid Firebird is correct about the words "quality" and "cheap" being mutually exclusive in the world of flight jackets.

My personal favorites are those made by Cooper. They have a substantial feel to them, and are entirely to military specification.

By the way, the one worn by Tom Cruise in "TopGun" was the G-1. It's the standard Navy-issue flight jacket.

See them here: http://www.neilcooperusa.com

Walt

I have a USAF-spec Cooper A-2 in size 42R that I will let go at a very reasonable price if you're interested.

There are lots of used A-2s also available on eBay for very good prices, but beware that the current-issue USAF jackets (supplied by Cooper and Avirex) have velcro sewn on to the chest area for patches. You can take the velcro off, but it leaves holes in the leather where the stitching used to be.

I used to scoff Avirex jackets, but I've been issued two by the USAF and they've both been very high quality and put up with a lot of abuse. I recommend both the Cooper and Avirex jackets.

Also, for what it's worth, note that the true mil-spec A-2 is not a very comfortable item to wear. It has a very austere cotton liner, and fits very tight through the upper arm and shoulder. This design was not a problem for pilots who don't generally need to raise their arms above their shoulders, but sort of a pain in the rectum for the average wearer. The A-2 also does not have hand-warmer pockets.

The Avirex jackets that are currently being issued to the AF have incorporated two modifications from the original A-2 design to fix those issues -- they've added leather under the armpit area for better arm movement, and they've designed slit pockets that don't change the actual design and look of the original pouch pockets.

Here are 2 more cents-worth:

My spouse purchased a Cooper A-2 for me about 7 years ago. At about the same time, a friend purchased an A-2 from the San Diego Leather Company. Believe me, he paid less but received a lot more.

The Cooper by comparison is a very lightweight jacket--hardly more wind and cold protection than a heavy windbreaker. My friend's San Diego was considerably more substantial-- heavy-duty, like a good biker's jacket, warm, and (I felt) better looking for an A-2.

I honestly don't know if San Diego still constructs their A-2's the same way, but for under $200 I was impressed.

www.leather.com

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

I can't address the A-2, but as for the G-1, the jacket I bought from Cooper was substantially heavier than the jackets being issued by the Navy at the time (about 1995-6). I worked at a Naval Air Station then, (NAS Atlanta) and had ample opportunity to compare my jacket with the issued ones. Believe me, I got the better jacket. It had a heavier (thicker) leather, a higher quality lining and the detailing seemed of a higher quality.

Walt

I bought my "A2ish" jacket from LL Bean, because I was there and it was nice looking. Very easy to move around in (from real gussets under the arms, unlike the military straight cut ones), high quality leather, and INSULATED! Yeah, it isn't military issue, but that insulation cuts off the winds of the Chesapeake pretty well. It also has side pockets, map pocket, and creaks like it really belongs in the hangar. It was $149.00 on sale at their outlet store in Freeport ME. I also look ridiculous trying to put on my size 40 original.

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REMEMBER THE SERGEANT PILOTS!

OK, a bit off the topic but not - if you want your jacket customized - bomb group or fighter group art applied on the back - I have a contact in Salt Lake City that does great work for a reasonable price. She did the Nose art from the 509th B-29 "Strange Cargo" on my jacket. All you would need to supply is a jacket and a good quality photo or scan of what you want done.

Tom P.
www.wendoverairbase.com

USAF guys get their jackets custom made or modified predominantly here:

http://www.popsleather.com/

Try www.leather.com

I bought my modifed G1 [hand warmer pockets behind external pockets] from them and am very happy, especially flying the Tiger Moth in winter!!

G'day

Hi,

Have a look at http://www.acmedepot.com/ !

Paul

Check out Ebay

www.ebay.com

Cheers,

Lynn

I need a standard black one....I've completely worn out my beloved jacket given to me by a girlfriend 14 years ago. Being in a rock band it's a must have for the image. The only warm weather jacket I have right now makes me look like the Michelin man....Oh god please help.

John

Definately if you want accuracy and quality, there is no other choice but the Eastman. In the reenactor circles I've been in I've never seen a better one. I got mine for $300 off Ebay off an extra from the Pearl Harbor movie (abomination), and have not been disappointed.

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Thanks Gentlemen.

Sincerely,

Chris