Excelled Sheepskin and Leather Company G-1 Jackets

Deacon211 · Mar 4, 2017

TXFlyGuy said:
Here is what has me scratching my head...an Excelled G-1 could have been bought on sale for the paltry sum of $207, with free shipping. So why did I spend $525 on another manufacturer's G-1?

BTW...you can still get that Excelled G-1 for $217. Brand new.

Alas not in my size from the website. It only had up to 46.

I wouldn't lament your other G-1. I still think that a US Wings is a nicer jacket than the Excelled, fine looking jacket though the Excelled is. And I like my 100 Mission Cockpit better still.

There are definitely graduations of quality in materials, finish and so on. And, though you have no preference for goat, some do (myself included).

So, unless you yourself feel poorly used by the $500 jacket, I'd say that there is room in your closet for both.

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Treetopflyer · Mar 4, 2017

As much as I like my issued Excelled jacket, I would love a goat with a real mouton collar.

Skyhawk · Mar 4, 2017

Treetopflyer said:
As much as I like my issued Excelled jacket, I would love a goat with a real mouton collar.

They do look much nicer with the real fur! Just curious, do you think your squadron allow you to fly an aircraft with it on?

TXFlyGuy · Mar 4, 2017

Deacon211 said:
Alas not in my size from the website. It only had up to 46.

I wouldn't lament your other G-1. I still think that a US Wings is a nicer jacket than the Excelled, fine looking jacket though the Excelled is. And I like my 100 Mission Cockpit better still.

There are definitely graduations of quality in materials, finish and so on. And, though you have no preference for goat, some do (myself included).

So, unless you yourself feel poorly used by the $500 jacket, I'd say that there is room in your closet for both.

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The G-1 referred to actually was the U.S. Authentic. But, lets throw the U.S. Wings in there too. And, why not my Alpha G-1!

Treetopflyer · Mar 4, 2017

Skyhawk said:
They do look much nicer with the real fur! Just curious, do you think your squadron allow you to fly an aircraft with it on?

I fly with it all the time. There is nothing that says I can't fly with it.

Skyhawk · Mar 4, 2017

Treetopflyer said:
I fly with it all the time. There is nothing that says I can't fly with it.

Oh that's cool! I saw your photo with your Synthetic collar jacket with the flight gear and just assumed that was the G-1 you wore when flying. I know my squadron would not allow it when I was in the USN but every command is different.

The specifications for the G-1 have requirements for the materials to meet certain flame resistance standards. Your repro may or may not meet these. That would be the only issue I could see. other than a "by the book" command that frowns upon anything not 100% government issue.

Treetopflyer · Mar 4, 2017

Skyhawk said:
Oh that's cool! I saw your photo with your Synthetic collar jacket with the flight gear and just assumed that was the G-1 you wore when flying. I know my squadron would not allow it when I was in the USN but every command is different.

The specifications for the G-1 have requirements for the materials to meet certain flame resistance standards. Your repro may or may not meet these. That would be the only issue I could see. other than a "by the book" command that frowns upon anything not 100% government issue.

It's not a repro, It's my issued jacket. In the four squadrons I have been in, none of them had issues with us flying with our issued G-1s. Of course I never wore it when I was stationed in Guam.

Skyhawk · Mar 4, 2017

Oh I think I misunderstood you. I was talking about a real fur collar US Wings jacket being worn flying in the USN. Just wondering if you got any flak for doing that. I was not referring to the issued ones with the synth collar. When I was in the USN you could wear an issued G-1 in the turbo props and helos. Reproduction G-1s were not authorized to be worn.

Deacon211 · Mar 4, 2017

TXFlyGuy said:
The G-1 referred to actually was the U.S. Authentic. But, lets throw the U.S. Wings in there too. And, why not my Alpha G-1!

Oh, it was just an example. As I know that you have several jackets, I'd say there is room for the whole spectrum as long as you enjoy them.

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Deacon211 · Mar 4, 2017

Skyhawk said:
Oh I think I misunderstood you. I was talking about a real fur collar US Wings jacket being worn flying in the USN. Just wondering if you got any flak for doing that. I was not referring to the issued ones with the synth collar. When I was in the USN you could wear an issued G-1 in the turbo props and helos. Reproduction G-1s were not authorized to be worn.

We didn't have a strict no repro policy, but we did get the admonition from our safety dinks that the G-1 was not intended to wear in the Cockpit due to fire retardancy.

I'm not sure its prohibition was in the wing order, but most guys shoved it under the seat for post flight wear but avoided wearing it while flying.

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thor · Mar 5, 2017

True story regarding "unauthorized usage of a G-1"....
At the time (2004) I was deployed on Navy ship X and we were loading cargo pier side somewhere in the North Pacific area in late February/March. It was cold as hell and our Commanding Officer gave us permission to wear whatever clothing we wanted to underneath our shipboard coveralls. From the pier nobody could tell what we wore under our coveralls, they just saw Sailors in blue suits and gray, yellow or white hard hats slinging cargo.
Most Sailors wore turtleneck sweaters or fleece jackets or multiple thermal undershirts (and were still freezing).
I was a Chief Boatswain Mate at the time and Navy Chiefs can get away with a lot of unorthodox stuff aboard ship (don't even ask!). I decided to "push the envelope" of our CO's discretion and was able to comfortably fit my Eastman 55-J-14 G-1 under my coveralls (all you could see was that nice rust colored mouton collar at my neckline).
I was toasty warm and an Eastman G-1 saw military service aboard a Navy ship!

TXFlyGuy · Mar 5, 2017

Deacon211 said:
Oh, it was just an example. As I know that you have several jackets, I'd say there is room for the whole spectrum as long as you enjoy them.

Yes, always room for another G-1 (A-2) in my closet. Hmmmm, let's see what I should get next...

TXFlyGuy · Mar 5, 2017

Deacon211 said:
We didn't have a strict no repro policy, but we did get the admonition from our safety dinks that the G-1 was not intended to wear in the Cockpit due to fire retardancy.

Tell that to those Naval Aviators flying in the Pacific Theater, 1942-1945!

Darkjedi007 · Mar 5, 2017

Peter: I really liked the pics of your Excelled jacket!! Instead of just looking at goatskin, those pics are making me think cow might be an option.

TX: Can you confirm Excelled is Leather Coats Etc? I must have missed that, and I never made the connection.

TXFlyGuy · Mar 5, 2017

Darkjedi007 said:
Peter: I really liked the pics of your Excelled jacket!! Instead of just looking at goatskin, those pics are making me think cow might be an option.

TX: Can you confirm Excelled is Leather Coats Etc? I must have missed that, and I never made the connection.

Yes, Excelled is sold thru www.leathercoatsetc.com

They are running a sale right now, extra 25% off. That is a good deal. Free shipping too.

I absolutely love my cowhide jackets. The G&B, plus the Excelled A-2 are both cow.

Peter 1956 · Mar 5, 2017

Darkjedi007 said:
Peter: I really liked the pics of your Excelled jacket!! Instead of just looking at goatskin, those pics are making me think cow might be an option.

TX: Can you confirm Excelled is Leather Coats Etc? I must have missed that, and I never made the connection.

Yes they are the same. Only difference is no Dla or Dscp labels. Just be careful re sizing. The very new directly from them are true to size. The Dscp label ones run small so go size up. Hope that helps

Peter

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Darkjedi007 · Mar 5, 2017

Awesome! Thanks for the info. I'm learning so much for you guys!

Deacon211 · Mar 5, 2017

TXFlyGuy said:
Tell that to those Naval Aviators flying in the Pacific Theater, 1942-1945!

Well, be careful not to mix apples and oranges. The M-422 wasn't chosen for its fire retardant properties particularly (at least I've never seen that claim made anywhere). Though I'm sure that the fact that leather does provide some protection was considered a benefit.

Many WWII aircraft had very unfortunately placed fuel tanks. When hit, they leaked and sometimes caught on fire. The aviator was burned. He bailed out, or put the fire out, or not. That was very much considered the cost of doing business.

Consider also that flight gear for pretty much all the services went through a Nylon phase, either flight suits, or jackets, or both. There's nothing about that that suggests fire retardancy was foremost on anyone's mind, at least no one in charge of procurement.

Lastly, remember that pre-'70s knits and collars are wool, not poly. So, I'd argue that newer G-1s are less fun to be in a fire in than old ones.

What Skyhawk said about fire retardancy requirements in the spec intrigues me. Nothing on the jacket labels themselves seem to reveal that the knits and collars are anything but plain old Nylon and Acrylic respectively.

And I'd just as soon avoid that Acrylic collar ever melting to my neck. Having said that, I wore my G-1 in the cockpit after leaving tactical aircraft. And my airline uniform was nothing but poly.

So, so much for consistency.

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TXFlyGuy · Mar 5, 2017

And that is why, in a word...nomex! Bought two nomex jackets, summer weight and winter weight. Although, I have been told (and saw videos) that leather is a good protector in flash fires. The knits? Mine are blends (mostly). I think a couple of my leathers may have wool knits, however.

Always wondered about nylon. I have 3 gorgeous jackets that I had bought, mostly for flying in the Mustang. Not going to do that now!

G-1_USN_USMC_USCG · Mar 13, 2017

Fellow G-1 owners,
Has anyone seen an Excelled G-1 that doesn't have the DSCP label but still has the government contract label? Just purchased an Excelled G-1 that is in that configuration? Are these jackets issue or are they like the blue label Cooper jackets? This one we made in 2002 and still has all the labels and tags....new. Thanks for the advice.
Cheers,
Mike

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