Cockpit 100 Mission G-1

[ButteMT61]

I've mentioned this before, but I see modern pilots now wearing "A-2's" - in quotes as they are but a mere resemblance of the A-2 we all know and love.
Elastic waists
Black leather
Seams down the back
etc.
So while I get the symbolism, I'd have to say that if I were a 3/4 stripe guy, I'd be calling GW and having a truly masterful piece to flaunt while I strut through the terminals...the women DO dig it

 

[Deacon211]

No doubt we all appreciate the qualities of a really quality jacket. I'm not sure that the masses are quite so discerning.

As to the civil guys, most of the big carriers have uniform jackets...no getting your own, sadly.


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[WARHAWK]

What is funny is that Gen. Hap Arnold was a big force behind getting rid of the A-2. His personal B-25 was later the "AVIREX EXPRESS" paid for in part by the commercial sales of A-2's.....It is now "Miss Hap" it is the oldest operating B-25 still flying. Instead of a bomb bay, it has a luggage compartment, with a bed over the top, and an office in the back. and we wear A-2's when we fly it in the fall.
Our 21st Century U.A.A.F. A-2 is an accepted issue jacket.

 

[Deacon211]

What is funny is that Gen. Hap Arnold was a big force behind getting rid of the A-2. His personal B-25 was later the "AVIREX EXPRESS" paid for in part by the commercial sales of A-2's.....It is now "Miss Hap" it is the oldest operating B-25 still flying. Instead of a bomb bay, it has a luggage compartment, with a bed over the top, and an office in the back. and we wear A-2's when we fly it in the fall.
Our 21st Century U.A.A.F. A-2 is an accepted issue jacket.

Interesting. We attach a lot of romance to the leather jacket. But it was a piece of flight gear and I've no doubt that Hap didn't think twice about replacing it in wartime for something that was warmer or cheaper to purchase.

As for the Cockpit being an "accepted issue jacket", I'm curious what that means.

Can you find a Cockpit A-2 with the DSCP tag in it that is actually issued to Air Force pilots? Or does this mean that a pilot who wants a nicer jacket than the one that was given to them is allowed to wear a Cockpit A-2 with their uniform?




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[Peter 1956]

Yes there are Cockpit A2 with the DSCP labels on I have one. It's exactly the same as the 21st century civilian version except it has the velcro patches on plus the military labels. Most of all the leather is much poorer quality then the civilian version. No longer current issue Excelled have now the contract both for the USAF A2 and the USN G 1


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[thor]

 

[Deacon211]

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific.

I know Avirex had been one of the original suppliers to the USAF. But is the Cockpit currently contracted to do so? It's that part of "accepted issue jacket" that I'd like to understand.

Peter, you may have answered my question but I just want to confirm. Excelled is the current supplier of both A-2s and G-1s?

The Cockpit site states the following for the mil-spec G-1:

"A timeless classic, our U.S. Navy Issue Mil Spec G-1 is manufactured to military specified patterns and is currently supplied by Cockpit to U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and special operation units as well as foreign countries which demand the original."

Honestly, I would like the Cockpit jacket whether it was issue or not. But there is an undeniable amount of street cred that comes along with being issue...which is why absolutely every vendor at least implies such a connection.

Getting the actual item is important to some buyers even when, as you say Peter, the issue item isn't nearly as nice as the one being offered by a company.





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[Peter 1956]

Same as mine just says Cockpit. Will have to figure out how to put pics on here! Ha ha. As I said Cockpit leather is poor on these. Excelled are very nice but no longer Dscp different label but Dla


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[Deacon211]

Thanks again Peter. Can you make out the year that jacket was made from the serial number...the two digits are still the manufacture year if I understand correctly.

More generally, I'd like to hear what Warhawk has to say on the matter of both the A-2 and the G-1 vis-a-vis the item description.

I'd actually be quite happy to see the Cockpit issuing G-1s to the Navy and Marines. The Cockpit G-1 I tried at the Pensacola NEX had a great fit and even if I personally found the leather to be a bit floppy, it was undeniably nicer than my Pharr...which got me started in this whole G-1 replacement madness in the first place!


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[Peter 1956]

The issue Cockpit is 2007 issue. Well made no problem with the design or manufacturing but the leather is very poor with tendency to crack it has like a plastic type of sheen which if cracks off looks a mess . As far as I know Cockpit never had a contract for a G1 . Both Excelled and Pharr had the contract from about 1999 up to 2004 and then Excelled only from then. You will see some 2004 manufactured Pharr but with an over stamp for 2005 etc. I presume they sat in stores a long time and got issued out as requested perhaps they might have been in non popular sizes. Excelled early models had a label with the eagle etc on then and then the standard Dscp label. The very latest have the Dla labels. The current contractor for both A2 and G1 is excelled to the best of my knowledge. Their A2s are very nice the leather quality on both types are very nice. I have a Dla A2. They do run big. I take a G1 in a 40 but a 38 in a A2. The Cockpit A2 are sized the same a size too big. Hope that helps


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[Peter 1956]

Forgot to say the civilian version of the Cockpit A2 is superb as the leather is of fabulous quality. It's all down to the Berry agreement which stipulates USA leather to be used on Dod jackets so superior imported leather is a no no. As I said before apart from the labels and the velcro patches it's the same jacket just in a much nicer leather. You can have the velcro on as extra if pre ordered. I tried some on in DC and was most impressed with the quality.


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[Deacon211]

That's interesting that the Cockpit you have is from 2007. Later than I had thought.

What you've said is about my understanding of it and relates to our earlier discussion about marketing.

Still, contracts change all the time and I am reluctant to say anything definitive about the Cockpit claim that the G-1 "is currently supplied by Cockpit to U.S. Navy and Coast Guard..." etc since they could have gotten the contract yesterday.

But, these phrases like "mil-spec", "supplied", and "issued" stretch across the industry to sell jackets and it's sometimes hard to tell who is selling what to whom.

I will defer once more to Warhawk for the moment on the issue of A-2 and G-1 "issue".


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[Peter 1956]

Yes I agree about the marketing side. Mil spec? At the end of the day the new ones are cowhide and fake fur collars yet Cockpit are goat and real fur collars and no seam so I take the Mil spec with a pinch of salt.


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[thor]

 

[thor]

There are some of these A-2's on the 'Bay right now. I'd like to find a "mil-spec" or "issued" or whatever Cockpit G-1 in a 46L with the stock tag and front chest Velcro; I'd be all over it!

 

[Peter 1956]

Like I said nice jacket but very poor leather . Be careful they do run large!


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[Skyhawk]

You will never see a modern issued G-1 with a real fur Mouton collar. It was removed from the specs in the late 1960's. It is much cheaper and easier for modern contractors to use the Dynel synthetic collar, so I can't see any of them spending additional money to install a real mouton collar that is not required by the specs. The current specs allow Cow or Goat as acceptable types of hides. The weight is also specified. It is questionable whether the jacket would pass final government inspection with a real fur collar. The USN likes uniformity in what it issues and in turn what the crews wear.

Not to say that there are not private purchase G-1s in use in the USN. whether they were private or squadron level purchases, the evidence is there to support the claim. Make no mistake though, these jackets are NOT contracted by the DOD and did not pass the inspections or go through the process of DOD contactor approval.

Every USN command is different. I know my squadron would never allow private purchase G-1s to be worn at work. Some commands are more liberal with the rules. When I was in the USN, the "East Coast" commands were far stricter than the "West Coast" commands as far as uniform and grooming standards.

The modern contracted G-1 may not be the finest quality G-1s produced, but for a lot of people there is something special about having a true government contracted flight jacket. All other jackets can only be reproductions by definition and not be considered a "Real" contract jacket. They can only claim how close or exact the details are to a "Real" issued jacket.

 

[Deacon211]

Great post Skyhawk. As long as we didn't wear it in formation, us Yuma guys seemed to be far enough away from the flagpole so that we could wear a reasonable aftermarket jacket (no chesnut brown leather or blonde collars).

The modern contracted G-1 may not be the finest quality G-1s produced, but for a lot of people there is something special about having a true government contracted flight jacket. All other jackets can only be reproductions by definition and not be considered a "Real" contract jacket. They can only claim how close or exact the details are to a "Real" issued jacket.

Agreed. As it is important to some people, I'm always a little troubled by some of the more slippery language that sometimes permeates the A-2 and G-1. Nice jackets though they are, I think that it's a little disingenuous for companies to imply issue gear when it isn't.

 

[Peter 1956]

Yes great post indeed Skyhawk . Very much agree with all you said. Another reason I only get the issue stuff rather then the ' mil spec' . I certainly love all my issue jackets both current ones and from time before!

Cheers

Peter


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[Treetopflyer]

That's interesting that the Cockpit you have is from 2007. Later than I had thought.

What you've said is about my understanding of it and relates to our earlier discussion about marketing.

Still, contracts change all the time and I am reluctant to say anything definitive about the Cockpit claim that the G-1 "is currently supplied by Cockpit to U.S. Navy and Coast Guard..." etc since they could have gotten the contract yesterday.

But, these phrases like "mil-spec", "supplied", and "issued" stretch across the industry to sell jackets and it's sometimes hard to tell who is selling what to whom.

I will defer once more to Warhawk for the moment on the issue of A-2 and G-1 "issue".


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I know that the Cockpit G-1 is sold in the Navy Exchange (NEX) stores. Maybe that is what they mean by "supplied to the U.S. Navy." I have never seen an issued G-1 from Cockpit.