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Author
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Topic: WTB: Gemini/Apollo-era flight jacket
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J Blackburn
Member Posts: 224
From: Riner, Virginia USA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 07-16-2019 12:00 PM
   
Dose anyone know of a good source for acquiring a reproduction Gemini/Apollo era light blue flight jacket? There was a Kickstarter project at one time but the source has went out of business and began refunding buyers from the website. Al Worden's website states they are currently looking for another manufacturer. Could it be the only option is the royal blue shuttle era jacket also used today that the KSC Visitor Complex Gift Shop currently sells? Thanks for any information! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-16-2019 12:25 PM
They sold out of their first run of jackets and so they are not presently available, but Luna Replicas is preparing to again offer the Type 1 jackets again soon. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 396
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 07-16-2019 07:56 PM
This is not particularly helpful to your question but did you see the light blue flight jacket from NASA/Apollo that was on "Antiques Roadshow"?Beautiful looking and in great condition... |
J Blackburn
Member Posts: 224
From: Riner, Virginia USA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 07-17-2019 09:31 AM
Actually, I did catch that episode and it was a great looking jacket with a great story behind it. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-17-2019 04:53 PM
Luna Replicas announced a limited run of their Type 1 jacket today (July 16) but after Adam Savage tweeted about it, the run sold out quickly and sales have ended again. |
p51
Member Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 07-17-2019 04:59 PM
I just don't get it.Everyone who has made these have run out of stock (with the odd exception of the Kickstarter debacle), so why doesn't a company like Alpha make a normal production run of them? Imagine how good a constant sales item these would be at the Kennedy or Johnson Space Center gift shops! |
J Blackburn
Member Posts: 224
From: Riner, Virginia USA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 07-18-2019 08:49 AM
I agree, and at an affordable cost. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 07-19-2019 04:56 PM
quote:
Originally posted by p51:
I just don't get it.Imagine how good a constant sales item these would be at the Kennedy or Johnson Space Center gift shops!
Yeah, I don't get it either. This style of jacket is iconic, like the A-2 and MA-1 flight jackets... and Alpha, G&B, US Wings, etc. aren't going to stop churning those out anytime soon. For what it's worth, a few years ago I contacted Gibson & Barnes and had one of their reps price a custom jacket for me. I used the same pattern as their current "classic" jacket, but with a few modifications... brass zipper, snap-flap pockets, survival orange nylon lining, etc. They sent me fabric swatches and I chose shades of light blue and (alternatively) gold for the jacket shell (they were custom dye colors, not on the G&B website). If I recall correctly, they came back with a price of around US$220... and that was for a "one-off." I didn't end up pulling the trigger on that myself, but I have to think it would be entirely doable for a vendor to produce a reasonably high-fidelity replica jacket in quantity at a realistic retail price point. I'm befuddled that apparently no one thinks the demand is there. |
J Blackburn
Member Posts: 224
From: Riner, Virginia USA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 07-19-2019 07:48 PM
I am not even worried about having a museum quality replica due to the price tag, although it would be nice. I would settle for a Alpha Industries NASA flight jacket like the ones that are sold at KSC Gift Shop and a few other places. It would be simple to produce it in the light blue color scheme. As far as the liner goes black would be okay but like another person posted it is dyed material so an orange color should not be too hard or expensive. I know a couple of seamstress and am thinking of taking my royal blue version to them and checking to see if we could match the pattern and locate light blue material as close to the original jacket and an orange lining. Modifications could be made to the zipper and pocket flaps to replicate the original. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 396
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 07-20-2019 10:51 PM
Maybe a renewed Kickstarter program or some crowd-sourced startup that actually has staying power, unlike the first attempt? |
max.kaiserman
New Member Posts: 2
From: Philadelphia
Registered: May 2019
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posted 10-10-2019 05:31 PM
Hey everyone, this is Max from Luna Replicas. We've been overwhelmed by the positive response to our flight jackets. The goal was to make something as close as possible to the real thing, no expenses spared, and I believe we have succeeded. We'll be doing another run of 120 Type 2 blue flight jackets, then into gold "Type 3" flight jackets before Christmas. Our patterns are developed from three original Flite Wear jackets, and are proprietary as mentioned by Robert. We have these jackets priced reasonably for the development and costs involved. We're made in the USA with custom materials.
More to come! |
Panther494
Member Posts: 402
From: London UK
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 10-10-2019 05:43 PM
Welcome to collectSPACE Max.I managed to get one of your Type 2 jackets and very impressed. If the Type 3 continues in the same quality and attention to detail then I'll be looking forward to adding one to my collection. |
328KF
Member Posts: 1234
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 10-10-2019 06:46 PM
And be sure to continue with a Type 4 in the darker blue of the early shuttle era! Always liked the John Young jacket at the Astronaut Hall of Fame and saw that Jack Lousma was sporting one at his recent talk in Pontefract. |
vamanboatin
Member Posts: 214
From: Vienna, VA
Registered: Mar 2004
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posted 10-11-2019 08:37 AM
Max, welcome to cS. Albeit a very small part in the production of your latest flight jackets, it was exciting to be a part of such a quality and detailed product. It is difficult to tell the original from the Lunar Replicas jacket! Keep up the fantastic work. |
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