France has been an aviation leader since man first dreamed of flying. The Montgolfier brothers flew their hot air balloon in 1783. Louis Bleriot crossed the English Channel in a Bleriot XI monoplane in 1909. French pilots patrolled World War I trenches in tiny Nieuport fighters. Free French pilots flew Spitfires from England in 1944 as the allies liberated Paris. Today Dassault jet fighters fly in the Armee de l’Air and from France’s aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle.

French Air Force pilots wear a dark blue (Bleu Marine) leather blouson with an adjustable leather waistband, leather cuffs, and a zip-off black mouton collar. Their jacket also has a warm zip-out vest and an emergency orange search-and-rescue vest stored in a special pocket. They slip their rank and name badge over the leather chest tab. The jacket has lots of pockets including snap-shut front pockets, two inside pockets, zipper vest pocket, and a zipper sleeve pocket with pencil pocket and FOD cover.

The Armee de l’Air discontinued the jacket in 1994, but most pilots still have one to wear off base. The jacket is popular throughout Europe, not only with pilots, but also with students, girl friends, and enthusiasts.

Gibson & Barnes makes the French Air Force jacket from large, grade-A, chrome-tanned, drum-dyed goatskin. The zippers are the same as those used in France. The lining is comfortable long-wearing polyester twill, and knit cuffs are set inside the sleeves to keep the wind out.

The Military Issue jacket is complete as issued to Armee de l’Air. The Civil version is made without the removable collar, zip out vest, or emergency vest.

Standard Size Chart
Types Of Leather
Learn About Leather

Other items you may need:

Flying Scarves