Aero Highwayman On the Way!

[DJS Press]

Hello all.

I'm sitting here dying waiting for my new Highwayman to clear customs and get delivered. I agonized for over a year before I ordered it, because I never thought in a thousand years I would spend 750 bucks on a jacket, no matter what it was made of. But now I just want to start breaking it in! Here's what I ordered:

Black FQHH, black cotton drill lining, two inside pockets.

I originally was going to go with the vintage black, but decided that I want this jacket to be truly mine as I break it in, so I switched to the regular finish. I also was going with the Alpaca lining at first, but I figured I could get more overall use with the cotton drill since I can always wear a light sweater under it if it gets really cold, but can't remove the Alpaca lining if it gets a little warm. The cotton drill was recommended as the hardest-wearing lining. When I asked about inside pockets, it was "Sure, do you want one or two? Zip or stud closure?"

Amanda at Aero was great. She bore with me for a year while I asked questions and threatened to actually order one. Whenever I made a change to my order she always said "no problem". I wish everybody and every company was as easy to deal with.

Anyway, I found this forum AFTER I had already ordered my jacket, but there seems to be quite a few fans of Aero here. Knowing how I am with obsessions, I can see myself ordering a brown Barnstormer (or maybe a Mariner) within a couple of years. (Or maybe less.)

I'll post some photos after I receive the jacket, and as it breaks in.

Can't wait! Come on customs, you've had it 4 days already!

 

[fedoralover]

Welcome to the fedoralounge DJS Pres. Next to the the A-2, that is my favorite style of jacket. It looks like you and I are both sitting at the doorsteps waiting for the postman to bring our Aero's. Didn't "The Rock" wear one in his version of Standing Tall? It sure looked like one to me.

fedoralover

 

[scotrace]

Welcome to The Fedora Lounge DJS Press! That will be a very fine jacket. We'll look forward to some pictures!

 

[HoosierDaddy]

DJS
Another "Welcome"! The Aero Highwayman was my first heavy FQHH jacket. Several years old now,it is broken-in and slips on like a glove. Be aware,tho,that at first it will be quite stiff. I recommend getting a plastic spray bottle...fill it with tap water...and spray it down quite wet..and wear till dry. This will help shape,mold and soften the new HH. On mine,after a couple of weeks of daily sprays,the HH marbled and grained up quite nicely and began to wear much more comfortably. Also...after three or four years, I've only applied conditioner once,sparingly around the collar where the leather had become a little dry. Since picking up that first jacket off the sale page...I've aquired (gulp) five more...Halfbelts,longshoreman...plus a half dozen WW2 repros. The Highwayman remains my favorite utility jacket! Congrats!:eusa_clap
HD

 

[DJS Press]

... still nothing

I just checked the status of my shipment, and it still just says "Inbound into Customs", which is the same thing it has said for FIVE days now. I understand they have a lot of packages and mail to clear, but it seems like it will form a pile they'll never get out from under if they can't process any faster than that. Oh, well. I really just want to get it in time for the Philly car show this weekend.

Just for my own information, is five days in customs anything close to normal procedure? I bring in machine tools from Japan that weigh over 50 tons that clear in less time.

I'm on one of my frequent road trips right now anyway. (Valparaiso, IN Hoosierdaddy) I knew going in that the jacket was going to arrive stiff and require some work to break it in. I'd prefer to just wear it in the rain, but it hasn't been above freezing here in a week, and doesn't look like it's going to be anytime soon. I was planning on the spray bottle of water solution while wearing the jacket in the house, which I'm sure is going to cause some strange looks from my family.

.... like that ever bothered me before.

 

[PADDY]

Good choice of jacket.

Looking forward to seeing the photos when it clears US Customs.

 

[Flitcraft]

Good jacket! Aero is great- you'll get many years of wear from that jacket. Wear it in good health!

 

[HoosierDaddy]

DJS
Valparaiso is quite northwest of my location. Brother,Indiana is cold!
BTW...I keep the full spray bottle beside me for those strange looks. We CAN all get wetted down,ya know!
HD

 

[DJS Press]

Still nothing

Okay, this is ridiculous (I think).

I read something on a US Customs website that 1.3 million pieces of mail, packages, etc., comes through JFK airport customs every day.

My package has been in their posession for almost 5 full days, with absolutely no apparent progress. How many items can they backlog before they just run out of room? 1.3 million x 5 = 6.5 million pieces, and that's if they started with nothing when they received my package.

What if this was something perishable, or time-sensitive? I don't get it.

The thing that's really frustrating is that there is no way to check the actual status. Do they have it? Did they lose it? Is this normal? It doesn't seem like anybody has any answers.

I keep thinking of that scene at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark, with the giant warehouse.

Okay, I realize complaining about US Customs is like complaining about the IRS. Take a number. Then sit down and shut up.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

DJS
I just knew that you would be thrilled! I've had so many strangers stop and admire my antique brown broken-in Highwayman and inquire where I purchased it. Statements of "I have never seen leather of that quality...or haven't seen something like that in years". As the new heavy HH relaxes,it will surprise you how it marbles up and takes on charactoristics that,it seems,only Aero's FQHH will finally develope. I own several Aero utility jackets in vintage HH (Also grainy nice!)....and steer. IMO,tho..nothing matches that heavy FQHH as it breaks in. Looking forward to pics!
HD