Help buying flight pants, opinions, pricing, etc.?

[hs132]

@ Bill:

Can You explain me why the standard blue channel trousers without heating are the rarest examples (and the most expensive ones)? It should be the type which was produced in largest number, or am I completely wrong?

I have a tan one for my mannequin and wonder all the time why it is nearly impossible to get a good period blue one.

Have a nice day,
Steve

Hi Steve, That example just doesnt come up for sale, at least that I know of. While Im always hunting Im not privy to all. I would like to find a set with plastic RiRi. Best, Bill

[hs132]

Thanks for that list Bill, that is a great help. The pair on Relichunter is the $1600 pair I referenced in the beginning of this thread, so your list gives me a great comparison. It is currently one of the few real pairs I've found out there with a price on it still.

Peter Whammond has a couple pairs on his site as well. Here is a tan pair (salt/pepper?) but I personally do not like this style that much because of the lack of pockets:

http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Luftw...s/L024657.html

Am I correct to assume that the tropical med salt/pepper example you refer to is what had been called the tan example?

This pair is also on Peters site. It is a nice pair with a little damage, but the price is also "up there":

http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Luftw...s/L026459.html

Regarding the elec/heated pants, are there pros or cons to displaying those on a mannequin? I assume electric vs non-electric makes no difference, but would just be a personal choice of the collector.

Hello personal preferance. Like most of us compulsive collectors we want even up matched sets and we want an example of all. There are several pics out there that show pilots wearing issued pants with the front pockets removed, Here is one pic and I know of another showing G. Barkhorn getting out of his fighter with his pants minus the front pockets. Yes tan/trop/Med/salt,pepper are names refering to that type. Best, Bill

[hs132]

Agree..

As a note: black plastic RiRi zippers did exist during war , late war flightboots have them ..

Jos.

Hello Jos, whats your view on the Empire set? I think your zipp knowledge trumps us all. If black zipps are viewed as late war additions would early trop flight gear have blak zipps also? Your fellow flight gear enthusiast Bill

[Harry]

Interesting photo Bill. Also interesting to see the issued leather jacket (has the breast map pocket) has had its velour collar replaced with a leather one. I have one such jacket. The other guy's jacket also seems to have had the velour collar changed to a thicker fur type.
I also think the empire set is suspect. Black plastic RiRi zipps are wartime (late), but readily available as seen on the ebay repro jackets. Not a typical set and one I would shy away from.

Hello personal preferance. Like most of us compulsive collectors we want even up matched sets and we want an example of all. There are several pics out there that show pilots wearing issued pants with the front pockets removed, Here is one pic and I know of another showing G. Barkhorn getting out of his fighter with his pants minus the front pockets. Yes tan/trop/Med/salt,pepper are names refering to that type. Best, Bill

[Harry]

Here is a set of summer-weight, unlined, blue channel pants. Metal zipps -'Zipp' and 'Elite' marked. I am still searching for the jacket to match, maybe one of you guys with 2 will consider completing my set

[Harry]

2

[Harry]

3

[Scott A. Hess]

The tan set at empire is 100 percent repro, for many, but some quite obvious reasons. Imlooking for a mint/unissued electirally heated jacket, velvet collar, if anyone is selling.

[Scott A. Hess]

Eagle, IMO wartime applied, given the manner, condition of overall jacket and insignia

[Scott A. Hess]

Reverse. you can see the reverse bobbin thread.

[Scott A. Hess]

These boots have black RiRi zippers, bought them in 88, I can find nothing that indicates post war manufacture, be it either repro or postwar czech use. Manufacture is entirely consistent with the other dozen or so I've owned.

[Jos L C]

Hello Jos, whats your view on the Empire set? I think your zipp knowledge trumps us all. If black zipps are viewed as late war additions would early trop flight gear have black zipps also? Your fellow flight gear enthusiast Bill

I don't know exactly when they started to produce plastic zippers, para stuff also has these.., the white ones that is..
I think the black zippers are not that common and the flightboots that have them are late ones..., will check, but I think '44 ..
It looks like the era zippers are more black and smoother.

I've a tan pair of pants that has 3 brands of zippers, plastic and metal..

The Empire set is fake..
I've some other pics, but not from that site..
The set shows some strange things, the lining , black zippers all over..... and what about the waistbelt..?

Jos.

[Jos L C]

..

[Jos L C]

Same waistbelt.. and black zipper..

Jos.

[Jos L C]

Black zipper in question.. looks like recycled plastic..

Just my opinion..

Jos.