My mistake Sloan, I'm obviously getting a little thin skinned where this is concerned - that was genuine exasperation.
The Himel Bros. type jacket line suggestion is a strong one. I've commented before that a more modestly priced Heron would fly.
Another forum (Vintage Leather Jacket Forum) that regularly attracts derision here as Aero products are rarely featured.
As a regular of both VLJF and the Hat Place the jibes get a bit tiresome but hey ho....
Not my cup of tea - I've only ever bought cape A-1 jackets.
John Jeter has a couple (a GW and a BR or RM) and he loves them.
The drape is a little different from cape.
Thanks John, you're absolutely right. My previous experience with Aero left me very nervous with this alteration, but happily it worked out.
This is currently a unique jacket - the test for an earlier pattern from the '20s.
If you compare this one with the stock A-1 on John's site you'll find...
For Sale Willis & Geiger Bureau of Aeronautics Summer Flying Jacket NA-1 size 46.
This is a copy of the BuAero 37J1B.
This is a well tailored jacket in excellent condition - no rips, tears, stains or smells. The cloth is 100% cotton Bedford cord and an excellent option for a summer...
Yes Jeff, as a test jacket fitted to John's measurements, the torso is usually fine, but my arms are a little shorter.
Last time I had the sleeves of an ELC A-1 shortened by Aero the job went very badly wrong (sleeves came back different lengths) and so I determined to send the next job...
I posted several images from John's website recently.
I've worn the jacket on several occasions now - generally in cold dry weather (and a bit of drizzle).
It has been liberally sprayed with warm water and worn until dry - this tightened up the lower back and relaxed the grain in places...
'It's mainly the patina. I recommend going out wearing it on new year's eve in a wintry country, then waking up in the snow, definitely having poured beer on it and ideally having got into a minor scrap. Bit of vomit probably doesn't go astray, either (scraped off).'
Yup...sounds likely... .;-)
Man...Geoff am I relieved you're on a lawyer's wage...that collection would cripple an academic (or at the very least stop him wasting money on trifles like food)... :-D
I don't have an Aero one currently (sold on a year or so ago), but I do occasionally visit their site to see what they have.
I do wear hand knitted Fairisle tank tops frequently though so can still comment.
The Aero designs are knitted by different individuals on the western islands so the do...
Sorry Joel, misunderstood your post. You are right, the old domestic cape would have worked well (very similar to the McGregor/Doniger AN-J-3 that I posted/offered for sale here).
He didn't want to, preferring to expand the military range at that time. In any case it's practically identical to the 'no name' Doniger contract, save the zip (Hershey Talon on a pale tape), knits (2-tone green/red weave), label (absent) and of course the cape - and the latter simply isn't...
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