Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, military and historical items for discerning collectors
Flying Clothing
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Replacement full length zip fastener for the AAF Type A-2 flying jacket (modern reproduction).
One of the first generation of copies of the 24" full length Talon brand zip / slide fastener which works perfectly for the A-2, B-3 and other USAAF flying jackets. Steel hardware on a cotton or synthetic tape which is sealed with plastic at the bottom end. Same eaxact design as wartime Talon zip and would work as a replacement, but originally made for the reproduction jackets. Unused and in brand new and fully functional condition.
$35 / £30 / €33
 Replacement full length zip fastener for the AAF Type A-2 flying jacket (modern reproduction) |  Replacement full length zip fastener for the AAF Type A-2 flying jacket (modern reproduction) |
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 Replacement full length zip fastener for the AAF Type A-2 flying jacket (modern reproduction) |
RAF Irvin Jacket collar strap.
One of those hard-to-find accessories needed to complete any Irvin jacket. The collar strap (which is very similar to the US strap for the B-7 goggles) attaches to the two "eyes" on the underside of the jacket's collar, and by pulling it up and over the head, keeps the collar standing up to eliminate cold and drafts. Primarily intended for use in pre-war open cockpit aircraft, it was still fitted on Irvins issued throughout the war (much to the delight of turret gunners, and anyone else in drafty crew positions) but is often missing. Clean black elastic with light oxidation to the hooks and buckle, retains some elasticity and is not all stretched out.
$75 / £62 / €70
 RAF Irvin Jacket collar strap |  RAF Irvin Jacket collar strap |
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 RAF Irvin Jacket collar strap |
AAF and USN AN6550-M-40 summer flight suit.
Very good example of the less commonly seen later war AN6550-M-40 summer flight suit in lightweight cotton intended for wear in jungle warfare. As the AN spec designation suggests, it was intended for wear by both AAF and USN aviators. It was a simpler pattern than earlier models, having only one zip fastener (at the front). the sleeves were wide, without zips, and the trousers buttoned with a strap for a tighter fit to keep mosquitoes out. This example is in great condition, no fading and shows very little wear. One small period repair on the back and a couple of tiny snags, plus some minor stains from age and storage. Good size (40) and retains its belt.
$125 / £100 / €120
 AAF AN6550-M-40 summer flight suit |
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 AAF AN6550-M-40 summer flight suit |
 AAF AN6550-M-40 summer flight suit |
 AAF AN6550-M-40 summer flight suit |
 AAF AN6550-M-40 summer flight suit |
 AAF AN6550-M-40 summer flight suit |
RCAF Type E flying gauntlets dated 1943.
Lovely pair of scarce RCAF flying gauntlets, Type E, dated 1943. Made from soft, black leather and unlined, these feature an extra long Lightning zip which runs almost the full length, to the base of the thumb, to enable them to be removed easily. Various white ink stamps inside, including the Canadian broad arrow in a "C" and initials RRB. Both gloves also retain their original linen spec. tags indicating Acme Glove Works, Ltd as the manufacturer, and a date of 1943. Very well made and very difficult to find. Some verdigris on the zips - which function perfectly and retain their pullers. Overall excellent condition.
$225 / £185 / €211
 RCAF Type E flying gauntlets dated 1943 |  RCAF Type E flying gauntlets dated 1943 |
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 RCAF Type E flying gauntlets dated 1943 |  RCAF Type E flying gauntlets dated 1943 |
 RCAF Type E flying gauntlets dated 1943 |  RCAF Type E flying gauntlets dated 1943 |
Superb reproduction A-2 jacket in huge size 46.
One of the best reproduction A-2 jackets I have seen! Very well made by US Authentic Manufacturing Co. New York, of the highest quality dark (seal) brown leather with a lot of attention to original details, such as the neck hooks, collar and pocket snaps, under arm grommets and Talon zip (steel instead of brass). It also has an authentic looking AC Contract label and has been customized with the red wool cuffs and waistband and red satin lining favoured by 8th Air Force fighter pilots serving in England. It is labeled a size 46 and actually is a very generous size. Very little wear evident and really looks the part.
$275 / £220 / €255
 Superb reproduction A-2 jacket in huge size 46 |  Superb reproduction A-2 jacket in huge size 46 |
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 Superb reproduction A-2 jacket in huge size 46 |  Superb reproduction A-2 jacket in huge size 46 |
 Superb reproduction A-2 jacket in huge size 46 |  Superb reproduction A-2 jacket in huge size 46 |
 Superb reproduction A-2 jacket in huge size 46 |
Original replacement knit waistband for an A-2 flying jacket.
Original knit waistband for the A-2 flying jacket. New, old stock medium brown wool knit waistband, unused and in perfect condition, with no moth nips or snags. If you have a A-2 jacket with a tatty waistband (as many are) this will bring your jacket back like new.
ONE LEFT IN STOCK.
$75 / £60 / €70
 Original knit waistband for an A-2 flying jacket |  Original knit waistband for an A-2 flying jacket |
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 Original knit waistband for an A-2 flying jacket |
US Navy Air Gunner's mittens
Absolutely superb pair of US Navy Air Gunner's mittens with separate "trigger" finger in outstanding condition. High quality black leather with beautiful gold foiled USN tp both gauntlets and tab indicating size 9. Leather lined gauntlet and fleece lined mitten. They show very little wear. Superb quality.
$135 / £110 / €125
 US Navy Air Gunner's mittens |  US Navy Air Gunner's mittens |
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 US Navy Air Gunner's mittens |  US Navy Air Gunner's mittens |
Rare Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves.
Fantastic pair of extremely rare Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves, made of soft brown suede, with knit wool linings and trimmed with rabbit fur. Each glove is well marked with nice crisp stamping and has a leather thing tightening strap. These show very light wear, and there is a tiny split on the left hand index finger, and a very small seam separation on the middle finger. Very hard to find and a beautiful example.
$425 / £340 / €395
 Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves |  Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves |
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 Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves |  Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves |
 Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves |  Japanese Army Air Force flying gloves |
WWII era USAAF Flight jacket liner / waistcoat / vest.
Featured in Combat Flying Clothing by Glenn Sweeting (page 65). Late war heavy cotton OD cotton waistcoat / vest lined with alpaca type fur as found in the B-9, B-10 and B-11 jackets. No label but stencilled on the back is F-1977 and handwritten F-0604. Clearly this is NOT anything from 1977 and has a wartime Talon zip (in good working order). I have seen these in use in photographs in addition to Sweeting's reference. A scarce item.
$195 / £155 / €180
 WWII era USAAF Flight jacket liner / waistcoat / vest |  WWII era USAAF Flight jacket liner / waistcoat / vest |
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 WWII era USAAF Flight jacket liner / waistcoat / vest |  WWII era USAAF Flight jacket liner / waistcoat / vest |
 WWII era USAAF Flight jacket liner / waistcoat / vest |
Rare RAF chamois glove liners size 9-1/2.
Apparently unissued chamois glove liners which were issued with both the 1933 and 1941 Pattern Gauntlets, for wear over the silk glove liners and under the leather outer glove. In many cases, the silk or chamois gloves were worn alone to provide comfort bit still allow "feel" for the controls or instruments. This pair is in immaculate condition; very clean and well-marked inside with stores ref. information and a broad arrow property mark. One of the rarest accessories to find. I have been lucky to pick up a few pairs n the past year, but this is the last - and a good large size!
$285 / £225 / €260
 RAF chamois glove liners size 9-1/2 |  RAF chamois glove liners size 9-1/2 |
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 RAF chamois glove liners size 9-1/2 |
AAF Type G-3A Anti-G pants ("Speed Jeans") in fantastic, unissued condition.
Extremely rare late WWII Anti-G pants worn over the top of the flying suit to squeeze the blood vessels and prevent blacking out in high-G manoeuvres. These saw very limited use at the end of the war in the new generation of high-speed aircraft and are one of the rarest items of flying clothing and hardest to find. This pair is in pristine, unissued condition with all zips working, the hose/tube intact and crisp label and markings. Difficult if not impossible to upgrade.
$525 / £425 / €485
 AAF Type G-3A Anti-G pants ("Speed Jeans") in fantastic, unissued condition. |  AAF Type G-3A Anti-G pants ("Speed Jeans") in fantastic, unissued condition.G pants ("Speed Jeans") |
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 AAF Type G-3A Anti-G pants ("Speed Jeans") in fantastic, unissued condition. |  AAF Type G-3A Anti-G pants ("Speed Jeans") in fantastic, unissued condition. |
 AAF Type G-3A Anti-G pants ("Speed Jeans") in fantastic, unissued condition. |  AAF Type G-3A Anti-G pants ("Speed Jeans") in fantastic, unissued condition. |
 AAF Type G-3A Anti-G pants ("Speed Jeans") in fantastic, unissued condition. |  AAF Type G-3A Anti-G pants ("Speed Jeans") in fantastic, unissued condition. |
 AAF Type G-3A Anti-G pants ("Speed Jeans") in fantastic, unissued condition. |  AAF Type G-3A Anti-G pants ("Speed Jeans") in fantastic, unissued condition. |
AAF Type A-12 Arctic weather / High-Altitude flight mittens.
Very good used pair of AAF high-altitude, extreme cold (Arctic) mittens for wear over other gloves for flight and ground crews. Olive drab green cotton mittens with leather palms and heavy alpaca lining in the hand section, with a friction tightening strap at the wrist. These would typically be worn withe the B-9 or B-11 Parka. Both still have their tags attached and are dated 1944.
$75 / £62 / €70
 AAF Type A-12 Arctic weather / High-Altitude flight mittens. |  AAF Type A-12 Arctic weather / High-Altitude flight mittens. |
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 AAF Type A-12 Arctic weather / High-Altitude flight mittens. |  AAF Type A-12 Arctic weather / High-Altitude flight mittens. |
Excellent pair of cold weather flying or motorcycling gloves.
Lovely pair of leather flying or motorcycling gloves with a wrist tightening strap and wide gauntlet, fully lined and trimmed with soft rabbit fur. These might be WWI era as late as the 1930s/40s. What's interesting is that they are virtually identical to the standard WWII Luftwaffe bomber crew issue with the addition of the fur lining and trim. The stitching pattern on the leather is interesting; reinforcement stitching in parallel rows, back and front containing stiff, finger-shaped pads around the gauntlet section. There are markings on the snap/press stud fasteners which read LANE M'FG. CO. so the metal parts do appear to be US made. These might be motorcycle gloves or flying gloves but they are definitely vintage and of excellent quality.
$65 / £55 / €62
 Excellent pair of cold weather flying or motorcycling gloves |  Excellent pair of cold weather flying or motorcycling gloves |
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 Excellent pair of cold weather flying or motorcycling gloves |  Excellent pair of cold weather flying or motorcycling gloves |
WWII US Navy flying gauntlets for an air gunner.
Very good used pair of flying gauntlets as issued to US Navy air gunners in the European theatre. Dark brown leather with fleece lining, designed as mittens with a separate trigger finger. One small nick (1 cm / 0.5") in the right hand thumb. USN in a box stamped on the back of both hands. Curiously, like RAF gloves, not quite a perfect matching pair, but very close, with a very slight colour variation. Both are marked Medium size. Zips in good working order. Super high quality leather and quite a scarce item.
$135 / £110 / €125
 WWII US Navy flying gauntlets for a gunner |  WWII US Navy flying gauntlets for a gunner |
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 WWII US Navy flying gauntlets for a gunner |  WWII US Navy flying gauntlets for a gunner |
 WWII US Navy flying gauntlets for a gunner |
RAF silk inner gloves, unissued in original wax paper wrapping.
Beautiful unissued pair of RAF silk inner gloves, worn under the leather 1933 or 1941 Pattern gauntlets for comfort, but often worn alone by navigators and other crew positions in larger aircraft. Well marked with stores ref. information, broad arrow and a large size 10. Still sewn together at the wrist and wrapped in their wax paper bag. Impossible to find better. I have had a few of these over the past few months but this is the last pair.
$250 / £200 / €230
 RAF silk inner gloves, unissued in original wax paper wrapping |  RAF silk inner gloves, unissued in original wax paper wrapping |
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 RAF silk inner gloves, unissued in original wax paper wrapping |  RAF silk inner gloves, unissued in original wax paper wrapping |
 RAF silk inner gloves, unissued in original wax paper wrapping |
Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water.
By contrast to the white "Bulgarian suit, this blue-grey shearling/sheepskin heavyweight "Channel" suit is a true combat veteran! Blue grey was designated for flight over water and this suit saw plenty of action, though remains in fair to good condition, the jacket showing the most wear. The main zip has been replaced (period) but has a break in the tape. It can be closed carefully. Sleeve zips are stiff but working though the pullers are broken. Waistband has been replaced (again, this appears to be period and new waistband shows plenty of use). Collar is worn and has a tear but could be repaired. With care, this jacket could most certainly be restored. The trousers are in better condition, with original functioning zips and all pockets complete with loops, tabs and flaps for storing survival kit. The leg/flag pocket is missing part of the snap fastener and there are a couple of very neat repairs (and one not so neat which could be field repair) but are otherwise in very good condition. Zips are an unusual maker, marked DePe and Czechoslovakia. The label inside the trousers is also unusual and has an open ended early date (193_). It's possible the suit was made in Czechoslovakia, which is an interesting variation. Overall it's a perfectly displayable example of a used suit, priced according to its condition.
$1,500 / £1,335 / €1,540
 Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |  Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |
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 Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |  Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |
 Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |  Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |
 Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |  Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |
 Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |  Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |
 Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |  Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |
 Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |  Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |
 Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |  Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |
 Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |  Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |
 Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |  Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |
 Luftwaffe 2-piece winter weight Channel Suit for wear over water |
RAF Mosquito Boots dated 1944.
Well above average, very good clean pair of RAF Mosquito boots in brown suede with drawstring ties to keep out mosquitoes and other pests. These boots were originally intended for ground crews in desert conditions, but were quickly seized by pilots and aircrews, notably fighter pilots, who recognized their immense value. The boots were produced in both green and brown suede; this pair is brown, which seems to be the less common. They are well marked, size 8 UK (9 US) with Air Ministry crown and broad arrow. They are also marked inside the foot (impossible to get a photo but very clearly visible) with the maker's name: John White, and a date of 1944. Original soles and heels all in excellent condition and very light wear overall. As nice a pair as you will find.
$575 / £480 / €545
 RAF Mosquito Boots dated 1944 |
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 RAF Mosquito Boots dated 1944 |
 RAF Mosquito Boots dated 1944 |
 RAF Mosquito Boots dated 1944 |
 RAF Mosquito Boots dated 1944 |
 RAF Mosquito Boots dated 1944 |
 RAF Mosquito Boots dated 1944 |
 RAF Mosquito Boots dated 1944 |
 RAF Mosquito Boots dated 1944 |
 RAF Mosquito Boots dated 1944 |
USAF leather flying gloves, HAU-6/P unissued and unworn.
Modern era jet aircrew flying gloves in unlined brown leather, model HAU-6/P (I believe from the 1980s or 90s). Still sewn together - never worn. Lovely quality gloves, both with labels and marked size 5 but they fit me perfectly (like a glove!) and I would wear a size 9 RAF wartime glove. Very similar looking to the WWII B-3A but better quality finishing.
$45 / £35 / €43
 USAF flying gloves, HAU-6/P unissued and unworn |  USAF flying gloves, HAU-6/P unissued and unworn |
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 USAF flying gloves, HAU-6/P unissued and unworn |  USAF flying gloves, HAU-6/P unissued and unwornDSCN3747 |
RAF Mk 14 Flying Suit/overalls named to a Hawk pilot with pilot wings and squadron patch attached.
Dating from 1992-1994, this flying suit was worn by a pilot of 234 squadron, No. 4 (Advanced) Flying School at RAF Valley in North Wales flying British Aerospace Hawk. Unusual in that the suit still has the owner's named pilot wing patch, Hawk shoulder patch and 234 Squadron patch attached. In excellent condition - and still has the handwritten pre-flight checklist and flight data inside the thigh pockets. All zips in good working order, no wear or damage. A great modern era flying suit.
$175 / £135 / €160
 RAF Mk 14 Flying Suit named to a Hawk pilot with pilot wings and squadron patch attached. |
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 RAF Mk 14 Flying Suit named to a Hawk pilot with pilot wings and squadron patch attached. |
 RAF Mk 14 Flying Suit named to a Hawk pilot with pilot wings and squadron patch attached. |
 RAF Mk 14 Flying Suit named to a Hawk pilot with pilot wings and squadron patch attached. |
 RAF Mk 14 Flying Suit named to a Hawk pilot with pilot wings and squadron patch attached. |
 RAF Mk 14 Flying Suit named to a Hawk pilot with pilot wings and squadron patch attached. |
WWI era heavy mittens, possibly RNAS flying use.
Heavy, fleece-lined leather mittens with short gauntlets in very dark brown/black leather. Tightening strap to wrist fastens with a UCFC press stud (United Carr Fastener Co.). Being black they may have been used by the RNAS which preferred black leather for their flying kit to the RFC's brown. Since most clothing used for flying was privately purchased anyway, it is impossible to say if these were used for flying or driving - but they are very warm and quite suitable for either. Some wear/damage to the leather on one gauntlet, but not significant and they display well.
$60 / £43 / €50
 WWI era heavy mittens, possibly RNAS use. |  WWI era heavy mittens, possibly RNAS use. |
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 WWI era heavy mittens, possibly RNAS use. |  WWI era heavy mittens, possibly RNAS use. |
 WWI era heavy mittens, possibly RNAS use. |
AAF / USAF Type N-2 Aircrew Mittens.
Issued for extreme cold weather flying, and no doubt intended for wearing over other warm gloves. Gloves are in superb condition, appear unissued and made from unlined brown leather with moccasin style stitching. Well marked inside with what appears to be a 1949 contract order date. US Air Force white ink stamp on back of both hands. First pair of these I have ever encountered. Interesting item of flying clothing from between WWII and the Korean War, when the AAF was transitioning into the USAF and still using brown leather for a lot of flying kit.
$40/ £30 / €35 email to secure this item
 AAF Type N-2 Aircrew Mittens |  AAF Type N-2 Aircrew Mittens |
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 AAF Type N-2 Aircrew Mittens |