Someone is selling Type 59 Jackets without the fur collars:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Chinese-air-...968?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0d38d1d0
There are government surplus/state company stores in every Chinese city, but I've never seen the flight jackets there. They usually carry those huge green greatcoats, army boots, gloves and helmets. Beijing used to have a large state company store close to the World Trade Center towers but it closed.
There is a great flea market in the southeast called "Panjiayuan" for anyone in Beijing or thinking of making a trip. There are local merchants with shops but also people from the countryside who bring stuff on the weekend. They have antique pottery (fake and real), calligraphy, motorcycles, cameras, and vintage military stuff. I've seen some old army coats from the 1940s-1960s (looks like the stuff the red army wore on the Long March).
http://www.beijingguide2008.com/panjiayuan_market_beijing/panjiayuan_market_beijing.html
Oversized furry collars were common in the Eastern Block and Soviet sphere, and even Russia until recently. I agree, the collars are too big to be practical; I suspect at some point they became just a style feature.I realize that the fur collar offers warmth when turned up and secured with a throat latch and prevents neck chaffing when turning around in the cockpit, but what is the designed purpose of a collar as over sized as that? Can anyone offer some insight? I've seen a similar peculiarity with some of the German kanaljackes. The collar seems so large that it would obscure the eyes if turned up.
I wonder how 'made in China' whiners feel about this. It is made in China, but it is also made in China.
There isn't that much interest around here, especially since this isn't really a military forum. There's more on VLJ.Fascinating. Hoping one of these days someone will create a thread with examples of less talked-about jackets from around the world.