An A-2 horsehide leather jacket as a present.

[valentina85]

Hello to everybody.
First my apologies for my poor english. I hope it will be readable anyway.
This is my first post in the forum, so please bear with me if anything is wrong. I have a problem. I would like to order a standard (non-customized) A-2 horsehide leather jacket from Aero's or Eastman's websites for my husband, a Christmas present... but am a little bit unsure.
I generally don't focus too much on the sizes, I focus on the actual measurements.

Here are some measurements of a similar leather jacket that fits him very well:

• 19" Shoulder-tip to shoulder-tip
• 23.5" Armpit to armpit on the back
• 25" Back length (base of collar to end of knit)
• 25" Sleeve length (shoulder-tip to end of knit)
• 8.5" Sleeve width at armpit
• 7" Sleeve width at elbow

I'm writing here to see if anyone has a non-customized A-2 jacket with about the same measurements and could tell me the name of the manufacturer, the size, the contract number and if the jacket is still in production.

Thank you for your time and kind regards from Italy, Valentina

 

[nick123]

https://www.historypreservation.com/products-page/original-maker/

^some of the Eastman A-2s on the HPA site. Click any model and on the top of te page you will see a "product measurments" tab with corresponding measurements for each model.

 

[Monitor]

Valentina, welcome to the board.

While I've no clue about A2 jackets, I'm sure many people here can help you out but it would also help a great deal if you tell us your husbands height and weight. That's an awesome Christmas present, by the way.

 

[Cocker]

Hello Valentina,

Your best bet would be to contact Aero or Eastman directly and ask them if they have any size that should be close to te required measurements. They should be able to orient you best.

 

[kirkaero]

You will need to double check this, but your husbands measurements seem closest to a size 42 Aero or a size 44 Eastman a-2 jacket.

Good luck

 

[Fanch]

@valentina85 you have actually provided a good deal of information. One additional bit of helpful information would to tell us where you reside. I think @kirkaero is on the right track regarding a size 42 Aero but might need to go with a 44 depending on the contract. I recall my Aero size 44 Aero Bronco A-2 had a P2P of 23.5". Aero's "Sale" page website generally lists measurements such as this one that is likely one size too small for your husband.
http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=3114

 

[El Marro]

https://www.historypreservation.com/products-page/original-maker/

^some of the Eastman A-2s on the HPA site. Click any model and on the top of te page you will see a "product measurments" tab with corresponding measurements for each model.

Valentina,
I think this a very good recommendation from nick123. The history preservation website lists jacket measurements and also has a sizing guide for each of the jackets available. If you have further questions you can email the owner, Charles DiSipio. He is very knowledgeable about all of the jackets he sells and he is quite helpful.
Good luck with your search!

 

[valentina85]

Thanks a lot to everyone for all the inputs and recommendations - really appreciate it. I'll finish to reply to everyone maybe a little in late but I'll reply to everyone I swear.
Just a little correction [*] and addition [**] to the the earlier post:

• 19.8" Shoulder-tip to shoulder-tip [*]
• 23.5" Armpit to armpit on the back
• 25" Back length (base of collar to end of knit)
• 25" Sleeve length (shoulder-tip to end of knit)
• 8.5" Sleeve width at armpit
• 7" Sleeve width at elbow
• 21" Bottom width of jacket (To be precise, the width of hide where it meets the waistband knit) [**]

Thank you again.
Cheers
Valentina

 

[Harris HTM]

I wish I got such a christmas present from my girlfriend, tell your husband he is a lucky man!
Regarding eastman, as Nick123 mentioned, you can find the jacket measurements on the webpage he attached. For Aero you can get an idea regarding sizing on the measurements posted on jackets on sale and used jackets (http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/products.php?cat=salerv) or on the stock jackets of Thurston (https://www.thurston-bros.com/collections/featured-stock), but it'd be better if you contacted Aero directly.
Since you need this as a xmas present then I guess a custom jacket is not an option.

 

[valentina85]

https://www.historypreservation.com/products-page/original-maker/

^some of the Eastman A-2s on the HPA site. Click any model and on the top of te page you will see a "product measurments" tab with corresponding measurements for each model.

Hello nick123,
Yes, you are right, www.historypreservation.com is really a great website, it offers a wide selection of leather flight jackets and lots of info and measurements.
I searched through their 'product measurements' section, but unfortunately didn't find any solution: the back length and the sleeve length of an A-2 in size 42 (and 44) were always a bit long for my husband. Both lengths must be
absolutely not more than 25 inches. I guess that the best thing to do is to go for a customized solution, but certainly not in time for this Christmas...

 

[valentina85]

Valentina, welcome to the board.

While I've no clue about A2 jackets, I'm sure many people here can help you out but it would also help a great deal if you tell us your husbands height and weight. That's an awesome Christmas present, by the way.

Hello Monitor,
Firstly let me say thank you for the kind welcome and for the opportunity to become a part of this community. I'd like to say what a fantastic forum this is.
I've been a lurker for a bit and have used the information shared here many times. My husband is 5ft. 10in. tall and weighs 11 stone (70kg./154lb.), with broad shoulders and an athletic build, more like a cyclist than a weight lifter.
Cheers

 

[valentina85]

Hello Valentina,

Your best bet would be to contact Aero or Eastman directly and ask them if they have any size that should be close to te required measurements. They should be able to orient you best.

Hello Cocker,
Yes, I'll contact Aero and Eastman directly. I just wanted to get a few first-hand opinions first...
Are you Belgian? Do you know the Belgian company called DE BRABANDER MFG. CO.? Do you have some info about the quality and accuracy of their A-2 jackets that they sell here?
https://qmi.be/a2-flight-jacket-horsehide-leather.html

 

[valentina85]

You will need to double check this, but your husbands measurements seem closest to a size 42 Aero or a size 44 Eastman a-2 jacket.

Good luck

Hello kirkaero,
If I've understood you correctly, Eastman A-2 jackets have, in general, a relatively slimmer cut than the Aero equivalents.
Very well, I'll take that into consideration.

 

[valentina85]

@valentina85 you have actually provided a good deal of information. One additional bit of helpful information would to tell us where you reside. I think @kirkaero is on the right track regarding a size 42 Aero but might need to go with a 44 depending on the contract. I recall my Aero size 44 Aero Bronco A-2 had a P2P of 23.5". Aero's "Sale" page website generally lists measurements such as this one that is likely one size too small for your husband.
http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=3114

Hello Fanch,
I reside in the sunny southern part of Italy, Apulia, the region of home-made pasta called "orecchiette"

My husband normally wears a 42/44 Regular on this style and definitely doesn't like jackets that are baggy in the body and sleeves. Above all, he doesn't like drooping shoulders.

Do you still have this size 44 Aero Bronco A-2 jacket?
If so, would you be so kind as to give me all the above-mentioned measurements, so I can get an idea of the size?

 

[valentina85]

Valentina,
I think this a very good recommendation from nick123. The history preservation website lists jacket measurements and also has a sizing guide for each of the jackets available. If you have further questions you can email the owner, Charles DiSipio. He is very knowledgeable about all of the jackets he sells and he is quite helpful.
Good luck with your search!

Hello El Marro,
Thank you so much for let me know the name of the owner of History Preservation website. I'll contact him directly.

 

[valentina85]

I wish I got such a christmas present from my girlfriend, tell your husband he is a lucky man!
Regarding eastman, as Nick123 mentioned, you can find the jacket measurements on the webpage he attached. For Aero you can get an idea regarding sizing on the measurements posted on jackets on sale and used jackets (http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/products.php?cat=salerv) or on the stock jackets of Thurston (https://www.thurston-bros.com/collections/featured-stock), but it'd be better if you contacted Aero directly.
Since you need this as a xmas present then I guess a custom jacket is not an option.

Hello Harris HTM,
I give presents because I like to make my husband happy. Especially if I find something special, which I know he wanted. It makes me happy. He does the same
with me. 12 years of marriage yesterday

Regarding Aero, I searched through their 'sale' and 'used jackets' sections, but unfortunately I didn't get much measurements, except very few measurements of a couple of boxy baggy A-2 jackets (probably customized too).

I can't understand why they don't specify the exact measurements of each pattern currently offered on their website.

Yes, you are right, it would be better if I contacted them directly.

 

[Harris HTM]

Hello Harris HTM,
I give presents because I like to make my husband happy. Especially if I find something special, which I know he wanted. It makes me happy. He does the same
with me. 12 years of marriage yesterday

Regarding Aero, I searched through their 'sale' and 'used jackets' sections, but unfortunately I didn't get much measurements, except very few measurements of a couple of boxy baggy A-2 jackets (probably customized too).

I can't understand why they don't specify the exact measurements of each pattern currently offered on their website.

Yes, you are right, it would be better if I contacted them directly.

Auguri for your anniversary then!
Keep in mind that, at least for me, I added half an inch to the sleeve length on my happy days jacket (similar to A2), compared to the sleeve length I have in normal leather jackets. I think with cuffed sleeves (such as an A2) this looks better, though I don't know if this is the case also with other guys.
Apulia was an ancient greek colony, right?

 

[nick123]

Hello nick123,
Yes, you are right, www.historypreservation.com is really a great website, it offers a wide selection of leather flight jackets and lots of info and measurements.
I searched through their 'product measurements' section, but unfortunately didn't find any solution: the back length and the sleeve length of an A-2 in size 42 (and 44) were always a bit long for my husband. Both lengths must be
absolutely not more than 25 inches. I guess that the best thing to do is to go for a customized solution, but certainly not in time for this Christmas...

You can always have the sleeves shortened later from any maker. I'd order something and tailor later. You'd be surprised how an inch of length wouldn't hurt. You should really contact Charles from HPA.

And happy Holidays to you and yours!

 

[Cocker]

Hello Cocker,
Yes, I'll contact Aero and Eastman directly. I just wanted to get a few first-hand opinions first...
Are you Belgian? Do you know the Belgian company called DE BRABANDER MFG. CO.? Do you have some info about the quality and accuracy of their A-2 jackets that they sell here?
https://qmi.be/a2-flight-jacket-horsehide-leather.html

Indeed, Peter De Brabander is the head of QMI.be. A couple guys I know owns his horse hide A-2 jackets, and they really look great for the price. They seem to be based on a Monarch contract. Accuracy wise, they're on par with G+B and the likes, from what I gather, but certainly not with Eastman/Aero/GW. They are really great value mid range A-2 repro and will certainly be one of your best options if your husband is not a stitch nazi :-D.

On the other hand, I've got my A-2 from Aero, with added sleeves and body length, and it's a real stunner. Dealing with them was really great. Both the jacket and my tales about how things went persuaded one of my friends to order an M442 from them, and he's most happy with it too.

Let me add my voice to the "lucky guy" part! My girlfriend admits the A-2 is really nicely done, looks great on me, but still calls it an "I-2", which, in french, is pronounced "Hideux", meaning hideous... She has amost certain disdain for vintage flight jackets!

 

[valentina85]

Auguri for your anniversary then!
Keep in mind that, at least for me, I added half an inch to the sleeve length on my happy days jacket (similar to A2), compared to the sleeve length I have in normal leather jackets. I think with cuffed sleeves (such as an A2) this looks better, though I don't know if this is the case also with other guys.
Apulia was an ancient greek colony, right?

Grazie per gli auguri!
I'm happy to hear that you know the history of my Region.
Yes, right, the Greek presence in Apulia begins in the 8th century B.C. with the migrations of the Hellenic Diaspora and Taranto was the most important city in the Magna Graecia (the early name for South Italy).
An amazing Region that everyone should visit at least once. Friendly warm people, sun, beaches, good wine, fine dining, rich history and living traditions