Let's talk Type 440 / G-8
Moderators: Indiana Jeff, Mike, Indydawg
Let's talk Type 440 / G-8
Indy fans who trawl around the Net will occasionally come across a jacket that looks very Indy and claims its roots back with pilots in the 20s and 30s -- the Type 440 or G-8. For example:
http://www.uswings.com/g-8.asp
Now, on one side, there are people over at the Fedora Lounge who are convinced such a jacket never existed:
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=5316
Meanwhile, there are mentions of the jacket, in books like this:
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=fyI ... &ct=result
So what's the real story? Who can comment on this?
http://www.uswings.com/g-8.asp
Now, on one side, there are people over at the Fedora Lounge who are convinced such a jacket never existed:
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=5316
Meanwhile, there are mentions of the jacket, in books like this:
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=fyI ... &ct=result
So what's the real story? Who can comment on this?
- TheMechanic
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- TruckWhatTruck
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- PyramidBlaster
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I'm not ashamed to admit i still love mine...It was my first 'Close-Enough'...I bought it circa '88, and wore it almost non-stop for years and years.
No way in 'that-hot-place' it will ever fit me again, though...
Truly a bulletproof jacket, even with the three-piece sleeves and 2-piece back. Felt like armor, man...
I may still get another one eventually, just for kicks....Until then, I'm strictly an Expo man....Although I love the construction of that jacket, it feels like a windbreaker compared to the G-8...
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73 ... 8front.jpg
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73 ... G8Back.jpg
No way in 'that-hot-place' it will ever fit me again, though...
Truly a bulletproof jacket, even with the three-piece sleeves and 2-piece back. Felt like armor, man...
I may still get another one eventually, just for kicks....Until then, I'm strictly an Expo man....Although I love the construction of that jacket, it feels like a windbreaker compared to the G-8...
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73 ... 8front.jpg
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73 ... G8Back.jpg
- Indiana G
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here's what flightjacket.com has to say about the G-8
so this statement isn't true then?The G-8 jacket was introduced into the service in the late 1920's as the official flight jacket of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp flyers. The details on this jacket were an inspiration for many famous designs introduced through the movie industries.
That’s true, but the jacket is more of a 30’s design, though I’m not arguing that it’s actually from the 30’s. Buttons were more widely used in the 20’s & 30’s. However, you count discount any extravagance when dealing with flight gear at the time. Some flyers had jackets made out of lion skin and all kinds of weird stuff. It was a rip roaring era in aviation.rick5150 wrote:Most jackets I have seen from the 1920's have buttons as the zipper was still a new invention.
Pretty much. Again, it's a nice jacketIndiana G wrote:here's what flightjacket.com has to say about the G-8
so this statement isn't true then?The G-8 jacket was introduced into the service in the late 1920's as the official flight jacket of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp flyers. The details on this jacket were an inspiration for many famous designs introduced through the movie industries.
Open cockpit flying was another matter. The coats went over your hips. Some went past your knees. As the cockpit became enclosed, the jackets got shorter. I always wanted one of those jackets myself. I could never afford one. Now it doesn't make sense, considering I have four Indy jackets. Too bad though.Indiana G wrote:it is a nice jacket. i would have bought an avirex one in NYC a couple of years back if they had my size. what i like about it is the length is more 'car coat' than it is 'aviator'.
Last edited by Rundquist on Fri Sep 19, 2008 4:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Understood. Your knowledge of vintage jackets far outweighs mine. It is one of those things that catches my eye though. Kind of like Indy's bag showing up years before it existed.Rundquist wrote:That’s true, but the jacket is more of a 30’s design, though I’m not arguing that it’s actually from the 30’s. Buttons were more widely used in the 20’s & 30’s.
Lion skin and rip roaring. Some things just go together...Rundquist wrote:However, you count discount any extravagance when dealing with flight gear at the time. Some flyers had jackets made out of lion skin and all kinds of weird stuff. It was a rip roaring era in aviation.
- binkmeisterRick
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A great jacket none the less.....well made,I really like mine,5 years old.
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41 ... C01526.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41 ... C01527.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41 ... C01526.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41 ... C01527.jpg
No, it's not.Indiana G wrote:here's what flightjacket.com has to say about the G-8
so this statement isn't true then?The G-8 jacket was introduced into the service in the late 1920's as the official flight jacket of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp flyers. The details on this jacket were an inspiration for many famous designs introduced through the movie industries.