Inside facings: What's the real story?

[CM]

A few questions:

Do the ToD or LC jackets have inside leather facings?

Do A2's have inside facing?

Does the Indy jacket not have facings becasue it is a "pretend" jacket for a movie or is this a convention in other real life jackets?

I am sure I have seen other jackets without them.

Cheers

[Holt]

tofd? no. no facings.

a2? yes I believe so.

and the original crystall skulls jacket has facings.

[Holt]

ok. sorry as kt pointed out to me in a pm. A2's dont have facings.

[Indydawg]

Yeah, I was about to mention that there are NO facings on my Aero A-2.

But some "newer" A-2 styles have them...my dad's Flying Tigers A-2 from LL Bean has facings...

[CM]

Cool, so not having facings isn't just a movie thing.

[Holt]

again, CS=facings

[Chewbacca Jones]

I believe that the facings in bomber jackets came about after WW2 as a common feature for practicality, especially in civilian jackets. But, I'm certain enough to take that to the bank.

[CM]

again, CS=facings

Yes, I knew that. Was wondering about the others. Thanks Holt.

I'm still shocked by the news of Mr Nowak's passing...

[RCSignals]

I believe that the facings in bomber jackets came about after WW2 as a common feature for practicality, especially in civilian jackets. But, I'm certain enough to take that to the bank.

the G1 and it's predecessors I believe always had facings.

[Indydawg]

Well, functionally, facings offer greater strength to a high-stress area....the zipper. All that up and down, metal on cloth (if there are no facings) gets to tearing the lining after awhile if you aren't careful...

BUT, you add facings...and you've got reinforcements there.

Don't know 100% certain that's the reason why, but...it seems logical...

'Course a LOT of things seem logical this late at night...

[Hollowpond]

Yeah, I was about to mention that there are NO facings on my Aero A-2.

But some "newer" A-2 styles have them...my dad's Flying Tigers A-2 from LL Bean has facings...

My late 80's LL Bean Flying Tigers jacket has NO facings. Man that thing is crying out for a blood chit. I just gotta work up the nerve.

Travis

[crismans]

Yeah, I was about to mention that there are NO facings on my Aero A-2.

But some "newer" A-2 styles have them...my dad's Flying Tigers A-2 from LL Bean has facings...

My late 80's LL Bean Flying Tigers jacket has NO facings. Man that thing is crying out for a blood chit. I just gotta work up the nerve.

Travis

Do it! I have a blood chit on my Wings Black Label A2 and I get all sorts of compliments on it.

[Hollowpond]

Yeah, I was about to mention that there are NO facings on my Aero A-2.

But some "newer" A-2 styles have them...my dad's Flying Tigers A-2 from LL Bean has facings...

My late 80's LL Bean Flying Tigers jacket has NO facings. Man that thing is crying out for a blood chit. I just gotta work up the nerve.

Travis

Do it! I have a blood chit on my Wings Black Label A2 and I get all sorts of compliments on it.

Alright! Show me a pic first! Where did you get your chit? (that seems like the filter should catch that )

Travis

[Indydawg]

Yeah- the older Bean A-2s were made with the correct one -piece back panel, too!

There are some pics around here somewhere of my Aero A-2 with the squadron insignia on it...no blood chit though...

Dude-I'd do it! They look great on the older Avirex jackets... Go for it!

[Gringo]

I have owned so many original A-2's(all sold off now), and they never had inside facings. The M-442(then the G-1) for the Navy did. It seems that after the movie Top Gun, the flight jacket really came back. Seems the repro guys started using that style even more. I quess it makes sense, more durable. Cheers.

Forgot to say, the blood chit was never issued by the service in jackets. It was given to the airmen and they had it sewn into the liner if they were shot down over China. A type of passport if you will. Avirex in the 80's put it on the back of the jacket because it looked cool. And it does!

[Gringo]

Sorry, I forgot to say the reason why the Navy made better jackets than the Air Corp, is because there was less Naval Aviators than Army Air Corps pilots, and the Navy had the money to spend. The M-422a originals are so much better in quality, but seeing Steve McQueen sporting the old A-2 in the Great Escape still works for me(star sportswear a-2 if i remember)!

[afalzon]

When facings are used it is much easier for the maker to install the zipper.
Also, more leather, purportedly adds more value to the jacket, (hence price) which explains why so popular with civilian jackets.

It has nothing to do with tearing the lining.

[gwyddion]

That would explain why I never tore a liner while never having facings, ever, on any jacket.


Regards, Geert

[Prescott]

This issue traces itself back to the old IndyFan site. As I recall, SA wasn’t a coined term yet and several members were trying to curb what they termed as the “snaky zipper” on their Westeds. A few weeks after a wearing a jacket, the front would tighten up a bit causing the zipper to wave or “snake” back and forth. Leather facings were suggested as a cure for this problem and became a popular request on all new Westeds. Like many things here, a change occurred because of fan pressure. Facings are definitely useful as they provide extra support for the zipper and prevent the lining from being zipped up. They are, however, more expensive to put in and not SA for Raiders. They also add a bit of weight to the front of the jacket making it feel more substantial especially when seated with it zipped up. Here endeth the history lesson…

Regards,
-P-

[Michaelson]

Yep, that's how I remember it too. It also helped keep the front of the jacket from sagging due to extra weight being carried in an inside pocket.

Regards! Michaelson