How many A2s?

[Doctor Strange]

Only a couple of A-2s at this point:

Gibson & Barnes Civil model in black goatskin
US Authentic in seal horsehide
(Plus I got a Bradley Associates for my dad the Air Corps vet)

Other leathers:

Gibson & Barnes Historical M-422A
Wested Raiders in dark brown lambskin
US Wings Indy in goatskin (but not keeping it, the fit is very odd)

Other jackets:

At The Front imported Tanker
Alpha B-15 (quite nice apart from the way-wrong removable collar fur)
LL Bean MA-1 variant in blue (heavier exterior fabric and insulation, orange interior but not reversable - virtually indestructible, I wear it for cold-weather hiking and snow-shovelling)
(Plus I got my son an Avirex WEP and a blue UltraForce MA-1)

Of course, I own a few other jackets and coats too, but none really worth describing here.

 

[PADDY]

Paddy.

A-2s

Original Aero (1942)
Original un-named maker pre-war.
Repro RMJ Dubow

B-10 Buzz Rickson Repro
B-15 Original

M445a USN Shearling: Original

Irvin Pre-war original
Irvin Eastman 4 panel repro.

Other leather: Brown FQHH Barstormer from Aero.

 

[JohnR]

I have an A-2 reproduction by San Diego Leather, with side entry pockets. Wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[Stony]

when you are ready to sell some, someone like me will be waiting to buy them for half of what you paid for them.

Remember this person's handle and make them pay "more" than you did.

As for jackets I own at the moment.

Repro

ELC Cable horse A-2
Avirex A-2 with about 90 aces' signatures on the lining plus other aviation personalities

Original

Star 55J14 G-1
Spiewak goat A-2

 

[SamReu]

Spokes Man

OK, here they are:

Two ELC house A-2s, one in seal goat, the other a really nice HH russet
US A HH in russet, capable of stopping a bullet
Cooper that yelled at me from a rack at Goodwill
An ancient Golden Bear, A-2 style, that I bought two decades ago

Got a G-1, too. Like the Cooper, it reached out a worn cuff and grabbed me as I passed by it in a thrift store.

 

[patterson]

Well, let's put it this way... My wife's divorce attorney had an exhibit enumerating the number of jackets I've purchased over the last 5 years... She'll probably want me to divide them in half - not take half the jackets mind you - but actually cut them all in half... :rage:

 

[green papaya]

all I have is a civillian COOPER A2 [no velcro for patches]

I bought it back in 1991

 

[Estevan]

3 A-2s at the moment gents, other jackets as well, but for A-2s only 3.

Original Goatskin Bronco Named to one of the "Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney"
http://www.352ndfightergroup.com/

Original Named Goatskin No-name contract A-2 (Thanks Paddy!):eusa_clap

Eastman Werber A-2

 

[Better Duck]

Just A2's:
ELC house size 46 from 1988 (shot, and just lying around, gathering dust)
ELC house size 44 with "Better Duck" jacket art, dating from 1990 (still fine)
ELC RW 1401P size 46r usset with very smooth hide
ELC Werber size 46, russet, but more caramel, "War Horse hide"
ELC Star Sportswear size 46 ordered, to be painted with jacket art by Robin Mott, with Elvgren's "Kneeding a lift".

Looking at John Chapman's new line of A2's I could easily be persuaded to get another one!

 

[BellyTank]

I have had RMC(J/NZ), ELC, Aero, originals and various other repros, probably a total of more than twenty over the last 10 years (not including other flight jacket styles)but currently I don't have any!

I'm happy with that.

B
T

 

[Jacob Dubow]

I have had RMC(J/NZ), ELC, Aero, originals and various other repros, probably a total of more than twenty over the last 10 years (not including other flight jacket styles)but currently I don't have any!

I'm happy with that.

B
T

Hey BT,

Why do you say that you are "happy with that" in regards to not owning any A-2's, now. I would be bummed out if I did not have at least my old ELC RW 27752 to throw on as I leave the house!

 

[BellyTank]

Other things.

B
T

 

[Edward]

I currently own one A2 - my first. Just bought it on eBay a couple of weeks ago for £39.99 BIN. I've been looking at these for a few years, but never quite taken the plunge - you know the score, wondering if I'll look like an eejit, couple of years with a (now, fortunately, ex-)girlfriend that thought thet looked "stupid" [huh] (she had an aversion to the elasticated cuffs....) , on it goes... anyhow. This is the jacket:

There's no brand name on it that I can ascertain, but it's in excellent condition, age unknown (maybe 1980s, I'm not sure when these were last in fashion, but I'd suspect it was an 'in-fashion period' manufacture as it's not one of the known specialist name manufacturers that do them now), and the leather appears to be of a similar quality (softness and thickness) to the Avirex and Schott branded jackets I looked at that shift for pushing GBP300 new, and over GBP100 on the 'Bay. It's a 44" - my normal size in an outer jacket - much baggier feel than I'm used to (I'm more used to the snugger fit of Brando style mc leathers) - works really well for a change though with my 50s-inspired casual looks. Epaulettes are stud fasteners (see photos), not period accurate I know, but I'm not worrying about that given the price!

 

[PADDY]

I've really cut down on my A-2's...

Just got shot of my beauty of a pre-war (minty condition) Major's A-2 in the nicest goat you've ever seen.

Just have three now (probably two too many!!).

RMJ (RMNZ) Dubow in russet (The Band of Brother's Producers' one)
RMNZ Dubow in seal.
Aero 1942 original (see pics), the only original I have left now [huh]

 

[Estevan]

We gotta talk about that Aero!

Paddy, that Aero is looking mighty small on you. Ummmmmm, we'll talk later. I just might have something you would like on the way being groomed at Gary's.

 

[PADDY]

Just cracked a rib laughing there Steve!!

Must be a slow day for teaching there Steve! The Aero is a beaut, and fits me to a tee, so I think I'll be keeping the "Wee Willie" for now!! (that's the Sqn patch gents, just in case!!).

Whadda ya mean 'it's looking small on me..?' You saying I've put on weight!!

Speak to you soon Steve!!

 

[Estevan]

Must be a slow day for teaching there Steve! The Aero is a beaut, and fits me to a tee, so I think I'll be keeping the "Wee Willie" for now!! (that's the Sqn patch gents, just in case!!).

Whadda ya mean 'it's looking small on me..?' You saying I've put on weight!!

Speak to you soon Steve!!

No classes today...Just signed a new contract with a great academy here in Puerto de Santa Maria. This year was mostly freelance, next year will be more tied down.

As far as "weight" well, yeah. You're looking a little protruding around the center there ole' chap. Time to step away from the lager ......

Anyhow, I was just joshinn' 'bout the trade. I've got a super nice painted goatskin Bronco at ELC having some knits put on and a new Crown. It sure is a beauty. A nice named A-2 from a Lt. that flew with the Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney! I can't believe I was able to buy it for what I did.

 

[Spitfire]

I currently own one A2 - my first. Just bought it on eBay a couple of weeks ago for £39.99 BIN. I've been looking at these for a few years, but never quite taken the plunge - you know the score, wondering if I'll look like an eejit, couple of years with a (now, fortunately, ex-)girlfriend that thought thet looked "stupid" [huh] (she had an aversion to the elasticated cuffs....) , on it goes... anyhow. This is the jacket:

There's no brand name on it that I can ascertain, but it's in excellent condition, age unknown (maybe 1980s, I'm not sure when these were last in fashion, but I'd suspect it was an 'in-fashion period' manufacture as it's not one of the known specialist name manufacturers that do them now), and the leather appears to be of a similar quality (softness and thickness) to the Avirex and Schott branded jackets I looked at that shift for pushing GBP300 new, and over GBP100 on the 'Bay. It's a 44" - my normal size in an outer jacket - much baggier feel than I'm used to (I'm more used to the snugger fit of Brando style mc leathers) - works really well for a change though with my 50s-inspired casual looks. Epaulettes are stud fasteners (see photos), not period accurate I know, but I'm not worrying about that given the price!

Nice jacket Edward - but as far away from a A2 as a Volkswagen to a Bentley. But - as you say - you know and the jacket is nice.

 

[Septimus]

I currently two A2 both from aero leather clothing.Seal jerky bronco's A2 and russet jerky bronco's A2.They are both breaking nicely.

 

[aswatland]

Aero 21996

I have recently taken delivery of an Aero 21996. Its all original apart from the knits, which are ELC replacements. The zipper is a Talon and the 828 Bomb Squadron patch is original, though not to the A2. Its a size 44 and with have its first outing at the Flying Legends Airshow next month.