Modifying a USAF-issue A-2 leather jacket?

[L2Driver]

Randy,
I think you're right about the early days with the A-2. I don't think they were authorized for flying -- which explains why mine sat at home, unused. I wasn't the the type to wear my 'poseur' jacket to work and then switch into my 'flying' jacket as I was heading out to the jet.

[Ken]

"dress to egress"

[L2Driver]

"dress to egress"

words to live by but I'd be lying if I didn't say that, as a younger man, I didn't always adhere to it as much as I should have. I was very diligent about the nomex but I tended to fly with just a flight suit or, if I absolutely felt I needed something warmer, either thermals or, less likely, a jacket. Between the suit and harness I felt pretty immobile in the A-10 with all that extra stuff on. Trade-off is I would have been very cold if I ever had to eject.

[Ken Dwelle]

"dress to egress"

Words to live by. A couple of weeks ago I flew our TBM-700 (Single Engine Turboprop) from Northern California to Seattle, it wasn't a great flying day and between clouds all I could see was snow, trees and mountains. I spent the entire flight wondering why I was stupid and wore tennis shoes, knowing that if we went down I would lose my toes for sure. Complacency.

Randy I never heard that business about the light grey drivers and the A2 jacket. I seem to recall that when I was at Mountain Home they were all wearing theirs...

[Randy Haskin]

Randy I never heard that business about the light grey drivers and the A2 jacket. I seem to recall that when I was at Mountain Home they were all wearing theirs...

Well, I'm sure you'll recall that the winds blow all sorts of different directions when it comes to these kinds of 'fads'. I haven't been around the block that long, but since I started playing the pointy-nosed game in '99, the light gray guys have scoffed the "dead cow". Their stated reasons are, 1) "it's a BOMBER jacket!", and 2) stick it to Big Blue for their stupid ways of trying to retain pilots.

Nobody ever said it had to make sense, haha.

[Ken]

Dress to egress. The rule applies to Herk guys as well. I was impressed by the Herk crew that bellied in outside Baghdad in 2008. Someone was taking snapshots as they ran for cover ... all in flak vest, helmet, with weapons, etc. It's hard to keep all that crap on during a 5-stop, 10+ hour tour of the country during a 16 or 18 hour crew day. I wasn't always so diligent. Nice job!

Now, for a unnamed B-25 pilot I know who prefers shorts and flip flops ... now that's some fodder for the nomex crowd. But I digress ...

[CoastieJohn]

This is an interesting thread. I have three leather jackets I was issued over the many years. The nonmenclature says, Flyers Jacket, Intermediate, G-1. I just checked them all. The mil-spec is Mil-J-7823(AS) One has an E after the 3. Two have the "USN" leather punched on the zipper lappel. The other has our "USCG" leather punched on it. When we get them they are clean (no velcro). If we wanted, our flt gear guys would sew it on. I never had anything sewn on mine...including velcro. I always liked them clean. You could always pick out the FNG's....they only been around a short time but had alot of brand new patches on their jacket.

Our helo guys (like me) rarely wore them flying. Too bulky when you have to wear your SAR vest over it and if it's cold enough to warrant a jacket you probably had to fly in your dry suit anyway. Plus I'm not sure how well leather floats! Our Herc bubbas would wear them often.

[sdennison]

Like I said earlier, my Pop gave his original to a stick at Luke either F-16 or F-15. Maybe for emotional connection, don't know. They may not have been allowed to fly in one. This was probably late 70's 80's.

Hacker, the photo with the hawk is frigging awesome! Oh yeah, you look cool too.