Best Glide AAF A-2

[Hopalong]

Does anyone know anyone who has an AAF A-2 from www.bestglide.com Their USAF First Reissue A-2 goatskin Flight Jacket Since 1943 seems to offer all the authenticity of a WW II A-2 jacket without all of the newer add on's like hand warmer pockets, extra seams and etc and the sale price is very affordable in the under $300 price range? Their USN G-1 looks pretty good too.
Thanks
Mike

 

[Doctor Strange]

There is very little difference in currently manufactured current-spec (or similiarly inspired) goatskin A-2 and G-1 jackets. I believe they all come from the same three factories in NJ and just get labeled differently by who sells them: US Wings, Legendary USA, American Mystique, Schott, etc. Cockpit jackets are gimmicked up a bit and cost more, and they want you to think their brand name makes a difference... but it doesn't really.

See the US Wings selection - if you can handle basic S/M/L sizing, their $175 special is probably fine. If you need finer 38/40/42 sizing, spend $80 more for their standard-spec or 2000 model. (Don't be so quick to skip on the handwarmer and wallet pockets because they're not accurate: they can come in handy. Current-spec jackets have a blousy ovesized cut compared to older jackets, and can easily accomodate the pockets.)

http://www.uswings.com/ta2.asp

A definite step up in terms of materials/manufacturing quality for current jackets is Gibson & Barnes (aka FlightSuits) - but their jackets are now over $300. Check their clearance page for bargains.

http://www.gibson-barnes.com/

Spending more than $250 for a contemporary current-spec jacket seems crazy. And if you're not wedded to buying new, you can get much better lightly used ones on eBay for a lot less with some patience and careful looking.

(Now repros of vintage style flight jackets, that's a whole other story!)

 

[Hopalong]

Thanks for your reply. I've looked at all of the lesser priced reproduction A-2's like Schott, Cockpit and etc, for the features I definitely wanted like, goatskin, tall sizes and etc and the Best Glide seemed to have the features I wanted (except I'm not sure about the color but pictures can be deceiving) because all of the other A-2's always had a feature I didn't want or they didn't offer the tall sizes or the goatskin but that's not saying that if I order a Best Glide A-2 I might not be happy with it and end up sending it back. I had a new steerhide Eastman A-2 years ago when they were only $400 and I was a definite size 44 but now I'm a size 48 tall and I've also had an Avirex A-2 in the early 1980s when they had a great color and were an excellent reproduction A-2 and I've also had 5 original WW II A-2's in the past but now I'm not that particular and I'll settle for a lesser quality A-2 if I find one that I'll be happy with.

 

[BellyTank]

Aren't the "Best Glide" jackets Cockpit?
I thought I saw a Cockpit banner on that web site

B
T

 

[Doctor Strange]

Sounds like you have as much, or more, experience with these jackets as I do. So...

I don't understand why you think that the Best Glide model (which out-and-out says that it's made by Cockpit, formerly Avirex) is somehow superior to the US Wings, Legendary USA, etc. All of today's American-made 80s-spec jackets are virtually the same jacket - don't believe the hype!

OTOH, the price is in the same ballpark as many others (another dead giveaway that all these jackets are from the same factory!), so buy whichever label you want... just don't kid yourself that there's much signficant difference between Cockpit, US Wings, Legendary, Schott, Alpha, etc., on the 80s-spec jacket.

 

[Hopalong]

You're right and I stand corrected but I didn't see this certain Cockpit A-2 offered on the other sites I looked at with these features so who knows maybe cockpit makes different variations for different named web sites so they can be different then the other sites even though they're offering the same brand? I saw a cockpit I liked on another web site but they only offered it in Horsehide. In the early 1980's like I said before, Avirex, before they were Cockpit, had great A-2 jackets and I even bought 2, one for me and one for my dad who was in the USAAF in WW II and I wore his original WW II A-2 out when I was a kid in grade school in the 1950's. I kept my Avirex A-2 for several years and I sold it to a dealer at a local military collectors show and he gave me close to what I paid for it because of the rich color and authenticity.
Thanks
Mike

 

[Doctor Strange]

Personally, if I wanted something that looked like 1943 at a reasonable price, I'd go for US Authentic's goatskin A-2 for $314. The real wool knits and cotton lining alone make it a better choice than any 80s-spec or current-spec A-2, at least in terms of replicating the originals. And the shape of the pocket flaps is much nicer than the simple ugly V on all the modern jackets. (I like my G&B/FS jackets for their curved flaps too.)

It's well known among jacketeers that today's Cockpit product is nowhere near as good as 80s Avirex. (A little before my time as a knowledgeable A-2 guy: I was wearing a Schott Bomber back then.) I'm not sure that it's any better than US Wings, etc., but maybe it is.

If you end up getting one, be sure to post pictures and a review!

 

[Hopalong]

I never said Best Glide was superior I just said they had the "features" I wanted and like I said when and if I order it I could send it back just as fast as I ordered it I was even going to buy a Cooper on Ebay in my size and I was excited to bid on it until I looked real close and noticed instead of just having a seam on each side going from the armpit to the waistband it had another seam on each side which I didn't want in the A-2 I was going to buy.


h these jackets as I do. So
I don't understand why you think that the Best Glide model (which out-and-out says that it's made by Cockpit, formerly Avirex) is somehow superior to the US Wings, Legendary USA, etc. All of today's American-made 80s-spec jackets are virtually the same jacket - don't believe the hype!

OTOH, the price is in the same ballpark as many others (another dead giveaway that all these jackets are from the same factory!), so buy whichever label you want... just don't kid yourself that there's much signficant difference between Cockpit, US Wings, Legendary, Schott, Alpha, etc., on the 80s-spec jacket.[/QUOTE]