1970's French Pilot's Jacket

[pilot error]

My latest score is this 1974 French PN leather jacket. This was almost certainly worn by a Mirage pilot. There are boatloads of copies, fakes,civilian,private purchase etc. There are companies making them right now, and if memory serves didn't G&B used to make one? This is the real deal and now I understand what all the noise is about. This is one helluva great jacket! The fur collar buttons on and off.

I've read that they mainly used Eclair zippers. This is an early example and the main double zip looks to me like Riri. It is unmarked save for a T at the top of the slider. The other 2 zips are Aimee which is a known contractor. This is my favorite jacket this week...lol


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[Siggmund]

That is one cool jacket. Such a rarity. Lucky you!

 

[Seb Lucas]

Nice. G&B used to do one in goat. The older originals used lamb skin. There are thousands of these around but you don't see them much. I think the blue put people off.

 

[Deacon211]

Very cool and a rare jacket to see! Nice find.

 

[pilot error]

Thanks Guys, Seb, like I said boatloads of copies, but I don't see "thousands" of original military issues around, at least not in my part of the playground. I Iove the blue....goes great with jeans.

 

[TREEMAN]

Great find !!!

 

[nick123]

The Gibson and Barnes version was called the "Armee de Air" or something along those lines. Nice one^!

 

[pilot error]

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[cssdwk]

Cool!

 

[Hypoxic]

These really are great jackets! Awesome find! I have the G&B model and that double zipper is my favorite feature. I'm actually thinking about installing one on a G-1. When you sit in the cockpit, it's way more comfortable when you can unzip the lower half a bit, then the jacket doesn't pop-out or ride up in the front. Good stuff, enjoy it!

BTW, originals in good shape are difficult to find over here too.

 

[Cooper A-2]

Great find, 100% original and issued.All flight personel got issued a jacket like this.
Not only fighter pilots but also Trainer, Heli and Cargo drivers etc...
Furthermore even French Customs " Les Douanes Françaises" got them issued.
They have been largely decommissioned in the 90' and replaced by the NOMEX jackets.
Again great and nice find.

 

[bn1966]

This place is always an education for me, I wasn't aware of this jackets existence, looks a lovely piece....great score

 

[rocketeer]

Seen a few, mainly in Paris 'vintage' shops and a few over here, as you say usually blue. I have not seen that chest pocket arrangement but usually with an MA1 style shoulder/sleeve pen pocket and an A2 style collar.

 

[Cooper A-2]

Seen a few, mainly in Paris 'vintage' shops and a few over here, as you say usually blue. I have not seen that chest pocket arrangement but usually with an MA1 style shoulder/sleeve pen pocket and an A2 style collar.

The chest flap is to put the rank patch inside.

 

[Cooper A-2]

For those who like and are interested, here you have a little description ( sorry, in french only) of the french flight gear/equipment after 1945.
The actual flight jacket ( Bouson Kermel ) is also shown.
Enjoy !
http://souvenezvous44.blogspot.fr/2013/09/equipement-du-pilote-francais-apres-1945.html

 

[Nick in London]

These come up on ebay.fr quite often. Here's a NOS one, 30 years old:

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/NEW-80s-FRE...796456?hash=item1cd8b490a8:g:WBUAAOSwTklcvQLM

 

[Doctor Damage]

^ Oh yeah, you gotta love French military/paramilitary sizing... "100L". I ran across that when I was idly researching French firefighter coats. It was a struggle to figure out how it worked and I never really did, lol

 

[Nick in London]

It means 100cm chest, long body. Very straightforward compared to British or Soviet military sizing.

 

[Nick in London]

Here's one with a hi-viz waistcoat hidden in the collar. I suppose this is to help you get rescued. https://www.ebay.fr/itm/tres-RARE-b...467363?hash=item341211f9e3:g:GRUAAOSwU2tc6Dhp

 

[Nick in London]

Here's a commemorative pilot's jacket from Dassault, the manufacturers of the Mirage. The stitching across the shoulders shows the Mirage, Rafale and Falcon. https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Collector-B...405566?hash=item287b9a5c3e:g:RlAAAOSw9xldemGB