Yesteryear
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 240
Darn, the Aero I like best has already sold, QT#041.
After you factor in shipping there is still a ~$75 difference between the Aero and US-A jackets, and the US-A is already a little over my price range. I am going to try the US-A jacket and see how it fits me. Worst that will happen is I need to return it.
I am a size 38R but ordered a size 36R, hoping that the smaller size will account for their weird long/tall sizing issue.
I got the medium brown goatskin, it looks pretty nice in these pictures: http://www.electraforge.com/brooke/flightsims/flight_jackets/A-2/a2.html
....I'll post back when I get it, for better or worse.
I've tried the horsehide Cockpit. Nice jacket with a good shade of russet.
There ya go. As far as the knits are concerned, for everyday wear, a nylon-wool blend is far more resistant to that annoying pilling issue, according to G&B. And a nylon/cotton blend lining lends itself to far easier egress, and ingress.
But for those who want a museum piece to admire...
There is a reason why so many manufacturers have added these extra pockets. Having jackets with both styles, the extra side pocket is a winner for me (and many others).
I want a WWII style A-2, no side pockets is the first thing I look for.
I didn't say the horsehide wasn't good. It's a very nice, serviceable jacket, well made for a reasonable price. It's just not a good WWII A-2 repro. You can do better in the same price range if you WANT a WWII repro.
And I resent the museum piece comment. I'm not one of those guys with closets full of jackets that don't get worn. I own exactly two repro A-2s and a repro M-422A. They all get worn plenty, and if I personally happen to find the cotton lining and wool knits vastly more comfortable than synthetics, why does that somehow offend you?