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The Great Flight Jacket Thread (wearing/buying Leather, NOMEX, WEP jackets/patches)
- Thread starter Lt_SNA_USMC
- Start date
nbedore23
SAVP
Yeah, standard issue before NIFE is the G1 and the green Massif jacket as of March 2025. Sadly, the CWU-36/45 isn't issued; it looks way better than the Massif jackets.
Also, does anyone have experience with purchasing a nicer G1? I've been eyeing the Eastman Leather Company G1, but I'm open to suggestions.
Black Horse Leather, Osan ROK.
People just want what they can't have. Everyone was clamoring for the Massif when it came out because it is such a better jacket then the -36.
Also, the CWU-45 wasn't issued at API, only the -36. You had to order a -45 (which was a much better jacket) in the fleet and hope Supply made it happen.
The NAVAIR Massif is top of the game in terms of wind protection and warmth in an easy to maintain and clean garment. No sewing, plenty of Velcro real estate, useful pockets, etc. RIP CWU jackets. Send to Goodwill pile.
Crews have never had it so good in Navy land.
Crews have never had it so good in Navy land.
Got issued the cardboard jacket in pensacola, fleet squadron said we didn't have the money to buy the massif. I've seen lots of squadrons buy the Condor (made in china) for aircrew and maintainers
Plenty of shiny CWU summer/winter weight floating around on ebay, I set up a search to find one. Also found a massif on there for a semi-reasonable price, usually they are pretty outrageous.
For leather, I really like my Mike's leather (mkark66@yahoo.co.kr), other people in my air wing got Iron something from Korea, any of the Korea shops seem to be pretty solid.
If you want one of the "old school" nomex CWU-45s (winter weight some people call them), Google around for the the different manufactures/contractors who made them. I forgot the names, but when I got one (off ebay) there was one maker who was supposedly better than the other who made most of them. A lot of them are also pretty beat up, so it may take some patience to find one worth buying. I know a guy who knows a guy who did military surplus and resale and allegedly every now and then someone will find a conex box or whatever with some in it and sell them on ebay a few at a time.
They're great when its 40° and below, but for actually flying and most days the masiff is a more comfortable and flexible jacket.
This company makes a version of the jacket you want but it’s not FR, might be nice for non-flying wear.
But yeah the massifs are great.
As for a G-1, the Korean ones are nice but they are very heavy because Mikes and Dark Horse use thick calfskin leather. Cockpit USA uses classic goatskin and I think the fit is better and it’s USA made of that bothers you. Pops leather also is back open for orders and they are quality as well.