Club Obi Wan

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?

As I understand it the G8 is a modern fabrication and was never linked to the military in any capacity. I think it was created sometime after 1960. Maybe Rundquist can chime in here.

Lost Worlds claims that it never existed as well.

i'm certainly no expert on this topic, but i can tell you that *some* of the guys over at fedora lounge have a reputation for being somewhat contrary, especially about vintage jackets.

i'd err on the side of objectivity, and take their statements with a grain of salt.

As far as I know it was fabricated by Avirex. Still, it's a nice looking jacket that looks like it could have come out of the 30's . I always liked it, though have never owned one.

Most jackets I have seen from the 1920's have buttons as the zipper was still a new invention.

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

here's what flightjacket.com has to say about the G-8

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.

so this statement isn't true then?

rick5150 wrote:Most jackets I have seen from the 1920's have buttons as the zipper was still a new invention.

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.

Indiana G wrote:here's what flightjacket.com has to say about the G-8

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.

so this statement isn't true then?

Pretty much. Again, it's a nice jacket

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'.

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'.

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.

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.

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: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.

Lion skin and rip roaring. Some things just go together...

I looked through the Eastman catalogue and my flight jacket book"Hellbent for Leather,A-2& G1 flight jackets" couldn't find anything,doesn't mean its true. Anyone know where more info can be found,now I very courious about the jacket.

I thought I read somewhere that there were no military contract records anywhere to validate that the jacket ever existed back then. Anyone else read that?

If you follow the Fedora Lounge link in the OP, you might see what you're thinking of?

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

Indiana G wrote:here's what flightjacket.com has to say about the G-8

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.

so this statement isn't true then?

No, it's not.