Nomex Flyer jacket

[calderoni]

Hallo guys,

this is my first post and i wanted to know from you guys if you could help me. I'm an aviation fan and i wanted to start collecting original Nonmex JAcket really used in air force or Navy. Could you tell me what's the real manifacturer/ brand that produces this jackets? I heard about nomex but looking on ebay about CWU-36 i found many different brands like Isratex, Creative apparel Assoc, Alpha Industries, Gibraltar INC, Valley apparel LLC... Which is the real brand really used by the USAF or Navy crew?
I first bought a Valley apparel jacket size Large and it was very short for me even if the sleeves were ok. i'm 192 cm (i live in Rome) and i usually usexl - 2xl for the normal jacket. What should i look for? The fit smaller right?
Many thanks to your kind help; i really appreciate it

Cal

 

[calderoni]

Other question: what's the difference between cwu 36p and cwu 45p?
thx

 

[Otter]

Other question: what's the difference between cwu 36p and cwu 45p?
thx

The 36 is a summer weight jacket, the 45 is a colder climate jacket. Use caution around the Isratex ones as iirc they had their contract revoked due to quality issues.
Having said that, I have one of their jackets that was issued to helicopter crew and it seems OK, it is my usual hot weather jacket. Size is large standard and it fits me well at 5'10" and 44" chest.

 

[Deacon211]

I know that Alpha Industries makes nylon copies, but I don't believe they made Nomex.

I just say that because Alpha is a very popular aftermarket supplier but might not be what you are looking for.

(Edit: I might be wrong on this, but would just encourage you to check as I have never seen an Alpha Nomex jacket).

Deacon

 

[Atticus Finch]

Actually, Alpha was a supplier of CWU-45P jackets and may have supplied CWU-36Ps as well. I know they supplied CWU-45Ps because I have three and they are all very well made jackets. I also have an Isratex CWU-45P and an Isratex CWU-36P. I've had no issues with either, but Isratex did have quality issues with their flight suits, as I recall.

As to which companies produced flight jackets for the military...all four of the ones you mention in the OP were suppliers at one time or another.

Here's a good rule of thumb for deciding if a jacket is actual military issue: Look on the tag for a DA, DSA, DLA or SPO number. Those prefixes denote the various U.S. Government departments that have administered the issuance of US military gear since the early sixties. If it has such a number there is an excellent chance its real. If it lacks that number it is probably civilian.

Here's a photo of the tag from an issued USAF A-2. The SPO number indicates it was made by Avirex in 1998.

AF

 

[Deacon211]

My apologies,

As I started to look around a bit more, I saw that I was incorrect in my earlier statement. I had never seen a real Nomex Alpha jacket, but I only had the few I was issued and so was probably speaking hastily.

Deacon

 

[calderoni]

Differences betweem cwu 45 and cwu 45/p?

Tha for your answers guys

 

[Atticus Finch]

Differences betweem cwu 45 and cwu 45/p?

Tha for your answers guys

The 45 is nylon the 45P is nomex. "P" stands for polymetaphenylene isophthalamide.

AF

 

[calderoni]

O wow Atticus u r an encyclopedya!
Thx
What about the sizes? if i use an XL with nike? Should i go with XXL with CWU 45p? The length of the sleeves with a large jacket were almost ok but....too short!!

 

[Atticus Finch]

You're probably asking the wrong person about fit. I'm an other-than-thin, 58 year old guy and I like loose-fitting jackets...so I always go for the size XL.

AF

 

[calderoni]

LOL
My friend so Xl would be cool for me. How many jackets do u have?

 

[Atticus Finch]

I'm embarrased to admit that I have no idea how many jackets are in my collection. Probably more than a hundred. My main interest is Cold War Era US flight jackets...but I also like USN deck jackets and civilian leather jackets...and more recently...vintage work jackets. I probably have only ten or twelve Nomex flight jackets, but I wear them often. IMO, the modern CWU-45P is probably the best designed flight jacket ever made.

AF

 

[calderoni]

My friend, how can i contact you in PM? I can't figure it out from the cell phone

 

[Atticus Finch]

My friend, how can i contact you in PM? I can't figure it out from the cell phone

You may have to contact a forum moderator. I'm not sure how many posts one must have to use the private message function, but a mod could let you know.

AF

 

[calderoni]

thx!

I wanted to show you a couple of videos that i think you might like

 

[alec0226]

Alpha made Nomex CWU-36/P and 45/P by goverment contract, and also made non-contract Nomex CWU-36/P and 45/P for civilian market.

As long as the tag has a goverment contract number, the fabric has to be Nomex.

 

[calderoni]

Can i post an item for a legit check?

 

[Atticus Finch]

Sure. Just need to be able to read the tag.

AF

 

[calderoni]

What's your email buddy?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

you need 15 posts to send a private message. You're currently on 11.