Flightsuits.com VS flightjacket.com (NOW W/ PICS!!)

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:10 pm

I'm confused, are these two different companies.. well, I guess they probably are. I never realized this until I started looking for someone to make me a custome jacket. Any opinions on these two? I spoke to a fellow at flightjacket.com about making me a custom Indy jacket and he was helpfull and all.. but how is their quality and general customer service? Oh, and their website and catalog are pretty descent. Flightjacket.com IS "U.S. Authentic", no? ..and Flightsuit.com IS what, "Gibson & Barnes" ? Do they make custom jackets? Their website did not indicate so, and generally wasn't as nicely laid out. But all opinions and advice are welcome.

Doug C

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:47 pm

Well, Wested is my first choice.. however, I started exchanging emails with Gemma a couple weeks back and apparently Peter needs to verify that they can actually make the jacket (I sent pictures and a thorough explanation) but has been too busy to do so. I feel like they're not interested in it.

Doug C

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:05 pm

Flightsuits.com is now called Gibson and Barnes. I don't believe they're doing any custom work at all now.

Flightjackets.com is a completely different company, and are the folks who have been using the stolen photo from Wested's website to advertise their Indy jacket. If they had to stoop so low to do that instead of showing one of their own, I'd suggest you proceed cautiously if you're going to deal with them. It's your money.

As to Wested not being interested....I have a feeling they must be tied up in a movie production, as they usually fall off radar when they're busy...but rest assured, Peter WILL resurface when he has the time. Just be patient, and nudge them now and again to see what the current situation is.

Peter's still hanging fire on a couple of MY requests, though occasionally he reappears to tell me he hadn't forgotten....then disappears again.

Regards! Michaelson

that_dog · Post by **that_dog** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:15 pm

I don't believe that flightjackets.com has ripped off Peter's image. That "honor" instead goes to leatherattractions.com.

Flightjackets Indy page:
http://www.flightjacket.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=9

Leather Attractions:
http://www.leatherattractions.com/india ... jacket.htm

Having said that, I've owned both the Wested lamb and Flight Suits (Gibson & Barnes) goat, but have never seen the flightjackets.com Indy jacket (nor, for that matter, the leather attractions jacket, though I would be wary of such a blatant ripoff artist). FWIW, I preferred the Wested.

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:20 pm

Michaelson wrote:

and are the folks who have been using the stolen photo from Wested's website to advertise their Indy jacket.

OK, thanks for that.. Now just to be clear on this, the picture on their website and catalog is one of a vintage goatskin jacket by itself, no maniquin or anything. I have seen another company that uses the Wested manaquin but replaced the face section...I do not believe they are the same. What say you?

Doug C

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:25 pm

Also, on this same note.. flightjacket.com has a really nice as well as interesting catalog. It's full of facts about leather flight jacket history. They sell reproduction flight gear basically. The vintage goatskin Indy jacket looks nice in their catalog too. I think they even sell a coffee table quality catalog/book (like $12). They also make a barnstormer "rocketeer" looking jacket in the vintage goatskin also.

Doug C

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:39 pm

I have a feeling they must be tied up in a movie production,

Indy 4 perhaps? Fedora

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:43 pm

I'm too impatient for this hobby

Which is crazy 'cause it won't be cool around here for several months. BTW, the first link that 'That-dog' posted is the site I'm talking about and here is their catalog.. no affiliation.
http://www.flightjacket.com/catalog2004b.pdf

Doug C

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:51 pm

that_dog wrote:I don't believe that flightjackets.com has ripped off Peter's image. That "honor" instead goes to leatherattractions.com.

Flightjackets Indy page:
http://www.flightjacket.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=9

Leather Attractions:
http://www.leatherattractions.com/india ... jacket.htm

Having said that, I've owned both the Wested lamb and Flight Suits (Gibson & Barnes) goat, but have never seen the flightjackets.com Indy jacket (nor, for that matter, the leather attractions jacket, though I would be wary of such a blatant ripoff artist). FWIW, I preferred the Wested.

AH, you're absolutely right, dog! My mistake.

Thanks for straightening me out on that. Leather Attractions ARE the ones who bootlegged Wested's images.

Production? I don't know, Fedora. They also have the Harry Potter films they're trying to finish, so it could be one of them as well.

Regards! Michaelson

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:49 am

Hey, I just realized that both the Flightsuit(FS)(Gibson & Barnes) and the Flightjacket (FJ) (US Authentic) is called "EXPEDITION" . This seems too coinsidental... could they be the same company?

Doug C

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:52 am

As a matter of fact, I can't seem to even be able to find an Indy jacket on Gibson & Barnes' website...anyone have a link?

Doug C

VP · Post by VP » Tue Jun 20, 2006 10:49 am

http://www.flightsuits.com/leather_expedition.html

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:42 am

Thanks VP, now I recall seeing and reading that before, at some point.

Doug C

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:22 pm

OK, well I've placed an order for an "Indy Expedition Jacket" from Flightjacket.com (US Authentic) [not flightsuit / Gibson Barnes]. I believe it'll be the first one that this forum has seen, so I'll take plenty of pictures and post here. It's going to be made of Vintage goat skin. I will be sending the jacket back to them 'cause they are sending it to me only for sizing of a custom jacket they are making for me. Should be here in just a few days, apparently they keep sizes such as s,m,l,xl in stock. They offer custom work and Dover (main contact) wanted to get my size right.

Doug C

PETER · Post by **PETER** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:42 pm

What a coincidence that Gemma goes on vacation for two weeks and I am forced to step into the chair and view the Doug and other requests. A sort of A2 Indy with nobs on which might have worked and with a little more patience been a result. Gemma appreciates that she has no right to grab an odball order without my authority and neither do I jump in with both feet and get burnt. As a designer and manufacturer of 40 years I know what can and cannot be done. So it is with a little regret but releif that Flightsuits have picked up the challenge from Doug and hope that he is not dissapointed with his hybred creation.
So gentlemen I am tied into your requests, remarks, questions and hopefully orders for the next two weeks, so keep it short and to the point and I will endeaver to reply.
Cheers
Peter

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:16 pm

I'll vouch for the man there, he replied to me within a day of my letting Wested know I had gotten my new jacket and that it fit.

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:54 pm

Doug wrote:

Well, Wested is my first choice..

Peter, man my heart just sank when I saw that you posted to this thread because I really wanted Wested to make my jacket. I can certainly appreciate too, what it's like to be somewhat overwhelmed at work..I'm there more often than I care to say. I may have you make me one anyway... the guy at Flightjacket (again, not "flightSUIT") assured me that he'd refund my money if I wasn't satisfied with the Expedition he's sending me. So if the construction is not up to snuff or if I hate the goatskin leather I'll send it back and contact Wested again. Actually, to tell you the truth, what I really want is this jacket made in LAMBSKIN which flightjacket does not offer. Who knows if I really like the flightjacket one, I could possible need a Wested one in Lamb too

.

ps - oh, and 1 other small correction, it's a combo Indy and A-1 (not A-2)

Doug C

michaeljcr · Post by **michaeljcr** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 7:37 pm

Hi there - I can't wait to see what your US Authentic jacket looks like. I bought one of their Horsehide A2 jackets last year mailorder to the UK and found them great to deal with. They had excellent communication, a wide range of modifications they offer at a standard price and realistic time frames for delivery. Their A2 jacket is perhaps not the most historically accurate but they are the only specialist company I found willing to put handwarmer pockets and an inside pocket into what is still a good repo - Eastman's and Aero just aren't up for it.

I've read a couple of older posts here about the company that seemed a bit negative, I'm not sure why as I had a great experience with them.

Cheers!

Michael.

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:38 am

Any update on this Doug?

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:08 pm

Sorry, I know it's been a while since I updated on this. I received a beautiful jacket from US Authentic AKA Flightjacket.com and I loved the look of the Vintage Goatskin, it's a great color... I mean it really grew on me in the couple of days that I had it. However, I just decided that Lambskin is what I really wanted and US Authentic doesn't offer it, so I sent it back for a refund. I have pictures on my wife's cellphone, only to realizes that there is no adapter to connect it directly to my computer (to download the pictures and give a proper review).. I guess I have to contact Sprint and purchase an added service to get the pictures. (?)

Doug C

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:33 pm

I'm glad to hear that they offer a quality product. I'm tempted to contact them about a G-1 with a leather collar. I love my Wested, but those bucket cuffs and leather waist get kinda cold in the winter.

Post by **Ken** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:56 pm

Doug C wrote:Sorry, I know it's been a while since I updated on this. I received a beautiful jacket from US Authentic AKA Flightjacket.com and I loved the look of the Vintage Goatskin, it's a great color... I mean it really grew on me in the couple of days that I had it. However, I just decided that Lambskin is what I really wanted and US Authentic doesn't offer it, so I sent it back for a refund. I have pictures on my wife's cellphone, only to realizes that there is no adapter to connect it directly to my computer (to download the pictures and give a proper review).. I guess I have to contact Sprint and purchase an added service to get the pictures. (?)

Doug C

Or send them by cell phone picture message to someone who can connect their phone to their pc?

Ken

VP · Post by VP » Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:51 am

Indiana Ken wrote:cell phone picture message

Also known as MMS.

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:40 am

If anyone here would like to help me get the pictures up, it would definately be appreciated. Anybody have the ability to post them for me? How would I forward them anyway. Sorry, I'm an idiot when it comes to Cell phones.

Doug C

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 1:06 pm

I'm going to clear up a few inconsistencies that I see in this post. First off, Flightjacket.com (US Authentic) calls their jacket the “Indy Jacket”. Flightsuits (Gibson & Barnes) calls theirs the “Expedition”. Doug C is dealing with Flightjacket.com, not Flightsuits. It is technically wrong to call his jacket an “Expedition”.

With that said, I've always thought that people should explore what's out there more than they do. The Flightjacket.com (US Authentic) jacket has been reviewed on this board before. In fact there is a plethora of information on every jacket maker in the back pages of this board, if one cares to do a search.

Most of the US jacket makers will send you a jacket for inspection, if you pay the postage both ways. Everyone should at some point at least try out Wested & Flightsuits. If you still have curiosity afterwards, then by all means try the others as well.

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 1:07 pm

Very well said, old friend.

HIGH regards! Michaelson

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 1:31 pm

OK, Here's my review of the FlightJACKET.com (US Authentic) "VINTAGE GOAT" Indy jacket. I believe this is the first time it's been reviewed on COW or even mentioned much for that matter. I finally got my phone to send pictures to my computer. I appologize for the poor photo quality in advance. The jacket was nicer than it apprears in these pictures. Note: this jacket was a Medium which is approx a 40, I needed larger.

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/2603 ... rig5rf.jpg

http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/6862 ... rig2mf.jpg

http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/3761 ... rig4rj.jpg

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/2880 ... rig0xt.jpg

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/311/ ... rig0je.jpg

http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/4642 ... rig9px.jpg

Well, I fell in love with the "Vintage Goat" as soon as it arrived. I mean the texture was great and the color really grew on me while I had it. The sleeves started to wrinkle and crease in just the few days I had it, just from trying it on over and over and the color can be described as "a darkish Caramel". This is a standard off the shelf jacket that was sent to me for sizing purposes and it had NO leather facing behind the zippers and also came with a smaller gauge "talon" zipper in an aluminum silver. I really liked these 2 features and they are big pluses in my book. The D-rings were a painted black color and one item I didn't care for was that they were much thicker than the D-rings on say, a Wested.. too thick really. Another item that bothered me just a bit is that the bottom of the action pleat folder back on itself when the straps were cinched tight, exposing some of the lining. I did like that the Action Pleats were not very deep, think they were like 1.5 inches deep but no where near the 3 inches that you sometimes see. Pockets didn't look too big either, they were just right really. Over all a really nice jacket. I may eventually buy one (even though it costs a little more) just to have the "vintage goat" and zipper.

Doug C

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 1:42 pm

Oh, and -

Rundquist wrote:

Flightjacket.com (US Authentic) calls their jacket the “Indy Jacket”.

The Flightjacket.com catalog say "INDY Leather Expedition Jacket", so maybe that's just descriptive.

Rundquist also wrote:

The Flightjacket.com (US Authentic) jacket has been reviewed on this board before.

I searched and searched before I ever posted and came up with next to nothing on it. So, maybe this isn't the first time it's been reviewed. Got a link?, I'd still be interested.

Doug C

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:17 pm

I remember the review, but it could have been lost in the big server crash of a couple years ago. LOTS of good stuff got lost in that one.

The 'joke' at the time was that everyone wondered what 'old goat' got nailed in order to make these jackets.

I believe _ was involved, as he was turning over every rock when it came to leather jacket makers back then.

Regards! Michaelson

Bufflehead Jones · Post by **Bufflehead Jones** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:30 pm

At the mention of old goats gettin' nailed, I'm gettin' the heck out of here. 8-[

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:52 pm

That "old goat" is really nice, here's a bad picture of it.
http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/214/10 ... rig1id.jpg

There were a few things that I failed to mention in my review, and I just thought of them:

The Arm Seam was about 1" below the Yolk Seam on the back, which alot of folks believe to be how the originals were.. Here's a couple of pictures (note the dark one is my pre-authentic lambskin Wested).

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6007 ... rig7wg.jpg

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/9467 ... rig7xj.jpg

OK, the other thing is strap attachments. The front ones did not attach to the inside of the pockets, like on my Wested, it attached at the side seams. Here's two pics:

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/3826/1 ... rig4py.jpg

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/3209 ... rig2uh.jpg

Now, the rear strap attachments, notice that it's "internal" so no need for x-box stitching, the way they used to be and they way I like 'em..original, though perhaps not as strong. Here's a couple pictures..

http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/2031 ... rig4zu.jpg
note: on this shot you see where the lining extends to the ends of the back panel which can cause a problem if straps are cinched real tight (you can slightly see the lining).

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/7527/1 ... rig9uu.jpg

The Wested's backpanel/action pleat area is a more complicated affair and is nicer.

Doug C

Mike Bolton · Post by **Mike Bolton** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:15 pm

If I was going to order one from U.S. Authentic, I'd spend a little extra and get it in Vintage Horse Hide.

Looking at this A2, it'd be beautiful

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:40 pm

agreed - that is a nice looking leather, but man that vintage goat was great. I'm still thinking about getting one in the near future.

Doug C