Current USAF Issue A-2s

[Big J]

:eusa_clap Must have shared a field with a meadow fed Suffolk Punch.
A ful tank of rich cream milk or grass from those green green fields produce the finest leathers for our jackets

No dude, I got 2 of those Imperial E-series, and they creak like haunted house doors.

 

[Big J]

So guys, from all of the manufacturers of the new issue A-2's, which manufacturer makes the best in you opinion?

 

[Doctor Damage]

So guys, from all of the manufacturers of the new issue A-2's, which manufacturer makes the best in you opinion?

Myself and most people would say the one that fits you best, although some might say the most expensive one or the one with the shortest torso. None of it is useful information. You're in Japan so getting something Made in the USA shipped over there might be too costly; it would probably be easier for you to get a reproduction from Buzz or McCoys or whoever, which would be superior in every respect to a mass-produced jacket intended to be mass-purchased by the USAF. However, a distinction should be made between a "current issue A-2", which are actually supposed to big, baggy, and long (which you'll see if you look at the official USAF photos which I've posted), and a "WWII issue A-2" which is almost a different jacket entirely...

 

[Big J]

Thanks very much Doc!
I have a load of Aero A-2's, but I'm thinking about one of the new ones for a tribute jacket.
I'm specifically interested in one of those new issue goat jobs with the historically incorrect features. Of all the modern issue A-2's, which ones are the nicest?

 

[Doctor Damage]

The nice thing about the modern issue jackets is that they're cheap but still made in the USA. They are supposed to come with two velcros on the chest: nametag patch (rectangle on left breast) and command patch (shield shape on right breast). I have one from Dakota Outerwear which is fine for me since I'm not a leather jacket person, although it lacks the throat latch so I guess it's only 99% accurate; it is appropriately baggy and long, though. Cockpit USA offers mil-spec jackets I think and their quality should be good (their "21st Century"). I don't think those come with the velcro, but maybe they'll put it on request. Taylors Leatherwear has some but only in "letter" sizing, although they do have longs. I'm not sure there's a huge demand for these new on the civilian market. I think they're supposed to be cheap; anything too posh would be "wrong", i.e. if Buzz did a reproduction it would be over-specced for sure! You might have luck on e-Bay - if you're a 46 or bigger I've seen Cockpit A2 with velcro regularly available in new condition in big sizes.

Here's Da Prezident in a Cockpit A-2, confirmed on Cockpit's website (click for bigger image). The fit is horrible to the eyes of the vintage WWII A-2 guys, but it's a totally different animal and not really comparable since the USAF re-introduced them after a few decades after cancelling them (unlike the G1 which has always been with us). I suspect these modern fit A-2s are more forgiving in an age when even modern day fitness nuts are fatter than fat people from the 1940s.



Anyways, I'm rambling so I'll stop. Someone around here will chime in with some source recommendations, hopefully...

 

[Big J]

The nice thing about the modern issue jackets is that they're cheap but still made in the USA. They are supposed to come with two velcros on the chest: nametag patch (rectangle on left breast) and command patch (shield shape on right breast). I have one from Dakota Outerwear which is fine for me since I'm not a leather jacket person, although it lacks the throat latch so I guess it's only 99% accurate; it is appropriately baggy and long, though. Cockpit USA offers mil-spec jackets I think and their quality should be good (their "21st Century"). I don't think those come with the velcro, but maybe they'll put it on request. Taylors Leatherwear has some but only in "letter" sizing, although they do have longs. I'm not sure there's a huge demand for these new on the civilian market. I think they're supposed to be cheap; anything too posh would be "wrong", i.e. if Buzz did a reproduction it would be over-specced for sure! You might have luck on e-Bay - if you're a 46 or bigger I've seen Cockpit A2 with velcro regularly available in new condition in big sizes.

Here's Da Prezident in a Cockpit A-2, confirmed on Cockpit's website (click for bigger image). The fit is horrible to the eyes of the vintage WWII A-2 guys, but it's a totally different animal and not really comparable since the USAF re-introduced them after a few decades after cancelling them (unlike the G1 which has always been with us). I suspect these modern fit A-2s are more forgiving in an age when even modern day fitness nuts are fatter than fat people from the 1940s.



Anyways, I'm rambling so I'll stop. Someone around here will chime in with some source recommendations, hopefully...

That's great information, just what I needed! Thank you!
I recently saw former USAF pilot and Mig killer Dan Cherry in a documentary where he went back to Vietnam and met the guy he shot down. He was wearing one of those new jackets, and it just got me thinking that I could make a nice Vietnam tribute A-2 out of a modern A-2 rather than a WW2 repro.

 

[Doctor Damage]

^ Taylors is no longer made in the USA, sorry my mistake.

 

[deerhunter]

Hello,

I have a question regarding Cooper A2 and I don't want to start a new thread just beacause of this - I'd like to buy a Cooper A2, there are many nice ones on Ebay.

Almost all of them have one-piece back, but yesterday I found one that caught my eye which has side panels. Size is 42R.
Does anyone know why and when the Coopers have side panels ?

I prefer one-piece back and but my concern is this - isn't the jacket more baggy with the panels ? I am slim and would like to have a slim-fit jacket and one-piece back Coopers used to fit me great ! (I used to have one some time ago).

Thank you very much for any response.

Best regards,

Jan

 

[kampkatz]

Deerhunter, Cooper A-2's tend to have the modern addition of side panels , may be to accommodate the heftier physique of most adults.
You will also see that the epaulets are tapered much more than the WW-2 style A-2' s. My Cooper size 44 is typically looser than the pricier
repros that you will come across. Still, it is an acceptable light-weight jacket for those who are not perfectionists about accuracy. Good luck in your search.
Paul

 

[Dumb&dumber]

My Cooper A-2, got it issued when I worked for the USAF as a consultant.
I am very happy with it. Tough as nails.

 

[Dumb&dumber]

 

[Dumb&dumber]

 

[Jim B.]

I seem to remember when the A-2 was reintroduced in 1988 I think, Cooper designed it and was the only maker for the first few years. The early ones were all one piece backs and no side panels or pockets. Then I recall a Cooper/USAF redesign was done in the late ninties that added those features, some larger sizes with two piece backs, three piece sleeves and loosened the fit. I think Cooper offered both styles for civilian sales until they closed. Just my recollections FWIW.

 

[morrison2951]

Both Cooper and Gibson & Barnes make quality A-2's.

 

[Dumb&dumber]

Got it in 2006 issued from USAF.
No side pockets.
Saw one pilot with a Cooper A-2 with side pockets though.
In 2006 they even had one version in Horse Hide available, but smaller in size.

 

[Doctor Damage]

 

[Dumb&dumber]

Same frame and shape since I left the Army in 2008, but a lot of "pain".

 

[deerhunter]

I seem to remember when the A-2 was reintroduced in 1988 I think, Cooper designed it and was the only maker for the first few years. The early ones were all one piece backs and no side panels or pockets. Then I recall a Cooper/USAF redesign was done in the late ninties that added those features, some larger sizes with two piece backs, three piece sleeves and loosened the fit. I think Cooper offered both styles for civilian sales until they closed. Just my recollections FWIW.

Thank you Jim.

Best regards,

Jan

 

[deerhunter]

Deerhunter, Cooper A-2's tend to have the modern addition of side panels , may be to accommodate the heftier physique of most adults.
You will also see that the epaulets are tapered much more than the WW-2 style A-2' s. My Cooper size 44 is typically looser than the pricier
repros that you will come across. Still, it is an acceptable light-weight jacket for those who are not perfectionists about accuracy. Good luck in your search.
Paul

Thank you Kampkatz.

 

[Jim B.]

One thing I do know about the Coopers, when they no longer had jacket contracts with the military they still produced the same jackets for sale to the public but apparently used up their mil spec goat, the G-1's and A-2's they were selling in the last years before they closed were made of drum dyed goat of a different shade of brown and the G-1 no longer had the Scovill zip or the brown nylon lining(changed to a grayish dk.green) but could be ordered with a real mouton collar(add $10) that was not available on the earlier ones. Still very nice but not authentic. So if you are shopping on Ebay that is something to look for.