Comments wanted Aero HH

[ldmax]

Can anyone please tell me about the weight and flexibility of the horsehide on an Aero Real Deal A2. I own a US Authentic A2 in goatskin. Never had horsehide so I ordered one in seal brown from US A. It is so heavy and stiff I can barely move in it. It doesn't move with my body. Very uncomfortable, unlike my goatskin. Also has a heavy surface finish that gives it a waxy molded plastic look. The Real Deal is about $200 more than the US A HH but probably worth it. Looks are important, but comfort is essential so the US A HH is getting returned. I wonder - is Aero's horsehide a lighter weight and more pliable? Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Tony

 

[Estevan]

My Aero's HH is quite nice, but it's a bit on the thick side. I bought it second hand so I have no idea how it was when it was new. I love mine it looks and feels great but since I have the anniversary model the HH is not very grainy. Everyone I have spoke to that has owned a RD loved it. IMO Aero should charge more for the jacket as it is by far one of the best ones they make. Here's a pic of a RD I had some time ago. It was simply fabulous, I should have kept it.

 

[fedoralover]

If you want to wait a few weeks I'll be able to tell you. I bought a US Authentic HH a few weeks ago and sent it back. My sentiments about it are the same as yours, plus mine had a couple of defects in it. By the time I paid for the shipping on the US Authentic, getting the Aero Real Deal was only $170. more. I got mine through the Aero ebay store. Mark Moye is the Aero rep here in the states and is absolutely fantastic to deal with. He sent me a leather sample and it was TOTALLY different than the US Auth. HH. I can't wait to get it and will post a review and some pics when it come in. Here's a pic of a Real Deal with the beacon rust knits, which I ordered on mine.

fedoralover

 

[Estevan]

BTW, I forgot to add. Drop Mark Moye a line, AeroLeatherUSA@aol.com he's Aero's North American Rep. He is a swell guy and will do anything and everything to make sure you get the jacket you want. He even mails you a try-on to make sure you will be happy. IMO he's the best thing that has happened to Aero.

 

[cheaterome]

Aero Real Deal

Hi Tony,
Yes generally speaking goatskin is more comfortable and easier to break in, but that depends on tanning methods. vegetable or chrome .

Or a good combo of chrome tan with a vegetable re-tan.

I own A 1940 contract Aero Real Deal in Russet it is about a 3 oz. hide which I specified and a fantastic jacket.

The finish is not heavy at all and durable, nice semi- transparent mottled finish.
It took about a month of wearing everyday, to break in comfortably. No hot water, no pre-ageing. It's a shame I haven't worn it more but I just have a lot of jackets, which is a nice problem to have.

Will an Amanda at Aero are extremely helpful. In the USA Mark Moye's service is legendary.

Anyway here are some pics.

Hope this helps.

Jerome

 

[Estevan]

Love the Crown Zip Jerome Sweet. I had a 38 contract Aero but it wasn't anywhere as nice as your 40.

 

[DiabolicalAngel]

Here's my Aero Real Deal but I had a mouton collar put on. The grain on mine is real nice. The back of the arms have a real jerky thick HH, it's a solid jacket but is not stiff, all RD have a lot of character and I don't think each one is the same. I told Aero to use the roughest HH they could find, they didn't disappoint me ! Good luck with your choice !

As you can see the two front sections differ in grain. The jacket is brand spanking new here, it has a few more creases now but sure is a keeper !

 

[kojax]

a2 horsehide

i have a a2 horsehide seal brown from u.s. mfg.. very nice jacket stiff when i got it 3 months old broke in very well real nice leather to.....funny i almost return it to......i am glad i kept it......in my case i am a 36r so the jacket is not so heavy..............

 

[ldmax]

Thanks!

Thanks guys! Those are all great looking jackets. I especially like the look of the leather on Jerome's 1940 Aero. Of course, I love the look of Steve's new Eastman Werber too. That is a bit more than I can afford right now. An Aero Real Deal I can do, especially with the free shipping to the U.S. Unfortunately, if I order it now it will arrive about the same time as the warm weather.

Regards,

Tony

 

[fedoralover]

It cost me $37.00 shipping fee's to get and then to send back my US. Authentic HH. Even though it had several defects, they didn't credit me back for any shipping, probably because I declined on getting an exchange. But I knew I would never be happy with it. I know many here have them and are very content with their US. Authentic HH, so please don't get defensive when I say that MY personal preference inclined me to look elsewhere.

But just for the benefit of those considering one, here's why I didn't like it. The jacket seemed way too heavy and the finish does indeed, to my eye, have an odd finish and color. I could hardly smell the normal type of leather smell you would expect on a leather jacket. Mine was russet, but is a far different russet color than the sample of Aero's russet that I was sent. My wife didn't like the look of it at all.
They purposely make the sleeves long and even though they offer to shorten them for free, you still have to pick up the postage since they won't do it in advance, which I suppose is because it would then be a custom and they wouldn't want to take it back. The zipper seemed very light weight and wimpy and worried me that down the road it may have problems, which would mean more shipping costs to send back.
The cuffs are way too long, at least 3 inches or so, and felt funny having that much knit on my wrist and hands. Mine had a fairly long nick on the epaulet edge where it met the shoulder seam and one of the cuffs was sewn onto the sleeve in such a way that the seam had a lump around it, making it fit really tight around my wrist, to the point where after wearing the jacket made my hand feel somewhat numb.
When I called US Authen. before I ordered one, just to get some help on sizing and other basic info on the jacket itself, I talked with some young lady who seemed rather annoyed with my questions, to which she really wasn't very knowledgeable anyway. However, I did get very prompt responses to my e-mails from Mr. Dover. They were very short, but were at least prompt.

All things considered, for me this jacket just wasn't what I was looking for. But again, I'm not saying that others can't be happy with it, I just knew I wouldn't be.

fedoralover

 

[Raymundo]

Tony,

If you want to avoid high costs ( shipping, customs charges, higher prices) and still buy a high quality jacket then I recommend Gibson and Barnes in EL Cajon, California. I own a Historical Horsehide A-2 of theirs and it is a fantastic jacket for the money ($438 Internet price). The horsehide is already broken in out of the box and is soft and comfortable to wear. It comes in russet brown or mahogany color and is sized to fit modern proportions unlike Mil-Spec. jackets. Order one size down for a trimmer fit. Aero makes nice jackets but you can't beat the convenience of buying and dealing locally in the US especially if you run into a problem that needs immediate attention. Good luck.

Ray

 

[vernknight]

I think its interesting on the above posted aero, that the collar has flattened out like a rough wear's collar would. I like the way that looks. It also kind of throws my previous identifications of pilots jackets in old photos off.

 

[Swoosed]

Hi Tony,
Yes generally speaking goatskin is more comfortable and easier to break in, but that depends on tanning methods. vegetable or chrome .

Or a good combo of chrome tan with a vegetable re-tan.

I own A 1940 contract Aero Real Deal in Russet it is about a 3 oz. hide which I specified and a fantastic jacket.

The finish is not heavy at all and durable, nice semi- transparent mottled finish.
It took about a month of wearing everyday, to break in comfortably. No hot water, no pre-ageing. It's a shame I haven't worn it more but I just have a lot of jackets, which is a nice problem to have.

Will an Amanda at Aero are extremely helpful. In the USA Mark Moye's service is legendary.

Anyway here are some pics.

Hope this helps.

Jerome

Jerome,

Did you get that crown zip from aero or did you supply it to them. I was looking at the 1940 and want to get a crown for it, but I heard they are hard to come by now.

Art

 

[cheaterome]

Aero Real Deal

Aero supplied the zipper. It was an option when I ordered the jacket.

I have some extras, but I bought them a while ago.

They are extremely hard to come by now unless you bought extras when MASH had them.
If you are the owner of Buzz Rickson / Toyo industies they have a lot ,and they are attached to the BUzz Rickson jackets..They are probably thinking ahead as usual because this stuff is hard to find now...imagine in 10 years.

They invested in the tooling and are now making repos of that same zipper EXACTLY.


Jerome

 

[Swoosed]

do they sell the zips alone? I saw one on e-bay go for buku bucks and got a bad feeling I ain't gonna get one.

 

[cheaterome]

ZIP GUN BOP

I have the feeling your assumptions are correct. They are silly expensive.

Aero at the time had these zips and only offer them with their jackets, probably would be best to contact them though.

Jerome

 

[ldmax]

Eastman Crown Zips

Check out Eastman's web site. They are now offering repro Crown zips!
http://www.eastmanleather.com/crown.htm