D1's

[John Lever]

 

[John Lever]

Pretty baggy eh ?

 

[Kermit3D]

I only have one sheepskin and I take care of it (probably too much) because I think a scratch can happen quickly... So when I think that these D1s were intended for mechanics whose working environment is full of sharp metal objects, it gives me the shivers !
As well as oil, hydolic liquids, grease...

Maybe, in the end, sheepskin is much stronger than I imagine.

 

[Pa12]

I only have one sheepskin and I take care of it (probably too much) because I think a scratch can happen quickly... So when I think that these D1s were intended for mechanics whose working environment is full of sharp metal objects, it gives me the shivers !
As well as oil, hydolic liquids, grease...

Maybe, in the end, sheepskin is much stronger than I imagine.

My experience with 3 different Elc sheepskins is that they are incredibly delicate. I couldn’t fathom working on an airplane wearing one. One of them had less than 5 hours of very careful wear and ended up with a small tear that had to be replaced. Must have been different hides used back then.

 

[Saint-ex]

I think that if the B-3, M-444/445, and ANJ4 have horsehide reinforcements, there must be a reason for it.

That said, I wore an Avirexish B-3 a lot during my teenage years, and I can say I didn’t take great care of it. It held up pretty well.

 

[Adama36]

I only have one sheepskin and I take care of it (probably too much) because I think a scratch can happen quickly... So when I think that these D1s were intended for mechanics whose working environment is full of sharp metal objects, it gives me the shivers !
As well as oil, hydolic liquids, grease...

Maybe, in the end, sheepskin is much stronger than I imagine.

agreed. Never understood why mechanics were given this type of jacket

 

[Saint-ex]

To be warm ! I think they didn't care about tears and scratches...

 

[Pa12]

Would have been the warmest thing available at the time. But if the hides were the same as today’s they’d be shredded in no time. Not sure about other makers hides. I only have experience with Elc between 2008 and 2014.

 

[John Lever]

They used them and when worn out simply chucked them for another. Most photos show veryvdirty worn jackets

 

[Grant]

I've mentioned this before, but my dad preferred wearing a D-1 in Korea vs the B-15C he was issued while flying in freezing B-26's.

 

[MASHMAN]

I recently tried a RM Japan D-1 here in Japan; the top seemed tight and the lower part seemed overly wide. It was a great deal with the yen exchange but I could not bond with it.

 

[Dany McDonald]

Not many around is a sign they were used and abused. Survivors are also very salty or in a bad state.
Same is seen with cloth B-15 and B-10, salty with excessive wear showing all over.

Look a the color of the mouton on the wrist and bottom, where it rubs....

D

 

[Dany McDonald]

I recently tried a RM Japan D-1 here in Japan; the top seemed tight and the lower part seemed overly wide. It was a great deal with the yen exchange but I could not bond with it.

Shearling garments (aviation) prices have risen a lot in Japan, hence the scarcity of older Buzz amd MC on the second hand market, my humble desktop view observations.

D

 

[John Lever]

Good to remember that technicians often had to work overhead and in awkward positions. A garment that was tight in any way would be useless