NON-fqhh Aero Clothing

[leopardstyle]

Nice Bronco, Butte.

 

[deluxestyling]

Aero Bronco in Cape skin. Love this jacket more and more...

Excellent! Not seen their cape before. Do you have any more pics? Maybe some close up shots??

 

[JanSolo]

Two goatskin jackets (Cheyenne, 30s HB):

"Old style" oil pull A1:

Goatskin M422a:

Lightweight vintage HH Anj-3:

Seal jerky HH (modified CR):

 

[Dav]

Steerhide Cheyenne

 

[Edward]

Nick, that black steer looks great.... that's what the Highwayman I have on the way is in. Might come today, which means picking it up tomorrow... we'll see. Really hoping the fit works for me. I had a jacket in that generic style some years ago that sometimes I liked, sometime I felt it was too baggy. It wasn't a vintage cut, though, so we'll see...

It does get grubby due to the light colour but it doesn't mark when splashed with water (or possibly baby sick). It's as water proof and stain resistant as any leather and not at all venerable like suede.

I really like how it wears, based on your photos. I think that might have to go on my list....

Aero Bronco in Cape skin. Love this jacket more and more...

Nice! What is the capeskin like? Like lamb? Is it 'fragile', or is it thin/light but hard-wearing, like goat?

I really love my Iron Heart 21 oz jeans...anyone ever try Aero's 30 oz jeans? Curious about how they wear and the cut...

30oz?? Jinkies... Like wearing armour, I should imagine! The Iron Hearts look great, just beyond my budget for a pair of jeans.

Lightweight vintage HH Anj-3:

How do you find this one? I briefly owned an Aero ANJ3 a couple of years ago. Although sized at a 42, which is what I wear in my AN6552 and A2 from Aero, it was a significantly neater cut again than even the AN6552, especially across the shoulders. Nice design, though. I wonder why they didn't take that opportunity to rationalise and standardise the flying jackets across all forces - even if it had been an alternative design rather than the leather. Interesting too that the ANJ3 seems to have gotten shot of the mouton collar of the pre-existing USN design, but when the AAF instead went with the B10 and subsequent textile jackets, they adopted it. Maybe proved its worth with the ~USN flyboys to avoid chafing? Or maybe just for added warmth, given the cloth and nylon jackets seem to have been more a B3 replacement than on for the A2? Someone here knows this in depth, I'm sure.

 

[Dav]

I hope it works for you Edward, I love the steer just as much as the horse, every bit it's equal IMO.

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

Just a heads up, I dont think the trainee and special priced Steerhide jackets on the sales page is the same thickness steer as Dave has.

This is just an observation as I had a steerhide jacket that was like a saddle, and just going from the pics from the salespage, this is not the same hide at all.

It might be a good thing tho, because that saddle-jacket I had was a pain to wear. (cool as it was, it wasnt practical)

 

[Edward]

Griff - yes, I think there are two different steers that Aero use. The MC jacket I have (pictured above) is steer. Same thickness as my fqhh jackets, but much softer from the off, not the armour-like hide that some describe the Heavy Steer as being. If it's the same stuff as my MC, I'll be very happy.

 

[Doc Average]

Here are some details of the Aero CC41 shirt. I´ve tried to do justice to the nice collar, but my pics a re pretty basic I´m afraid. The cotton itself is quite fine and crisp, and is comparable to vintage collarless shirts I´ve owned in the past. Fit is near perfect for me - without doubt the best fitting off the rack shirt I have. Aero say it has a traditional loose fit, and while it´s true that it isn´t skin tight, it´s certainly not tent-like either. Most importantly for me, the sleeve length is spot on for me (most shop bought shirts have sleeves that are far too long).

As worn with a vintage Tootal Standard tie which belonged to my Grandfather (probably ´40s or ´50s), and an orphan vintage waistcoat from Armstrong´s of Edinburgh. (Apologies for the rumpled look - I´d just got home from work.) The collar stays are removable. I prefer to wear it without them for a softer look.

 

[Edward]

Shirt looks wonderful! Maybe one day, for special occasions....

The Highwayman arrived today. Interested in comments about fit. It's very similar I think (though much superior, of course) to a knock-off jacket I had back in the mid nineties. Wore it for a bit, then decided I didn't like it (It was bought at a time when I really wanted a Brando-style jacket, and they weren't readily available t me at the time), then it was left in the wardrobe for about five years before I took it out and wore it extensively. Reminded me of the jackets the Beatles wore in those Astrid Kirchherr shots of the Silver Beetles in Hamburg in 1960 (wearing mid-late 50s jackets, presumably). For various reasons had it delivered to the office. Slipping my 30s Halfbelt off and this one on, the difference in feel is apparent. Much less snug, especially in the sleeve. I like the steer hide. This is the same steer as my MC Aero. Similar thickness to the FQHH, but much more supple; a nice weight to it without it being silly heavy. Not a hide I'd feel the need to baby, and one that will age well (albeit differently than the FQHH). It's a ide than on this slightly more relaxed fit of a jacket will, I think, drape very nicely as it softens (and on that score, would probably be a much better choice for Aero's take on the Indy jacket than their FQHH).

So, pictures...

The jacket as arrived:

And the fit.... only got the one photo - as per usual, it had to be a self-takey in the mirror....

Does it look okay? It's not the neat fit I'm used to with my other Aeros - feels more somewhere along the lines of an A2 with knits. In the abstract I prefer the 30s HB, but I'm thinking of this for the days when one of my neater jackets doesn't allow so much in below (a sweater, for instance....). The sleeves feel a little wider than I'm used to, but I don't think they *look* wrong....

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I think it looks good,Edward. Congrats!
HD

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

Its a little hard to see the shoulders on that pic, but I also think that based on what we se, it looks good!

The hide looks really nice, alot nicer then i thought from the sales pictures, and the lining was really cool against the black. A steal I would say!! Im envious

I think its great to have a jacket to be abel to wear a sweater under, sometimes its cold

 

[Edward]

I think its great to have a jacket to be abel to wear a sweater under, sometimes its cold

Thank-you, gentlemen - I think this one is a keeper. Agreed re a sweater - there have been some night recently where I'd have liked that extra layer under the halfbelt, but it's not cut for that. It's going to take me a little while to get used to this being a more generously cut jacket, but that's fine as long as it looks good. I'm keen to start getting more into the rockabilly scene here as well as (not instead of) my more 30s/40s inclinations, and I plan to indulge myself with my 50s end of the wardrobe.... This is a bit like wearing a slightly longer A2, with storm cuffs instead of external wrist knits, and no waist knit....

Definitely pleased with the price. This is my first "apprentice" jacket, and I can highly recommend them. There really is nothing to separate this from the quality of all my other Aero products. There is (or last I checked, was!) a second one almost identical to this (lining is same colours but a slightly different pattern) which is selling at just GBP20 higher than mine was, and is described as being perfect. I can't find a flaw in this one, so..... [huh] If you're looking for a Highwayman and don't mind it not being fqhh, I highly recommend it. FWIW, I think that as it ages this hide will drape better than FQHH in this cut. YMMV.

Edited to add: as this is completely the standard pattern, there are no internal pockets. Worth bearing in mind if you are thinking of ordering one of the other apprentice jackets still on the site. If I was ordering one of these at full price I'd ask for two "gun" pockets (which I prefer), but I don't foresee that being a problem when I wear this one (a pocketed shirt would help).

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

The Highwayman will also look better when formed more to your body. Mine actually looks trimmer.

 

[Edward]

The Highwayman will also look better when formed more to your body. Mine actually looks trimmer.

Good to know, thanks! I'm working late in the office tonight, wearing it as I type.... I think I'll be keeping it in here for a couple of weeks doing that....

 

[JanSolo]

Good catch, Edward! The leather looks very comfortable, the fit is very good but as Griff said, it needs to be broken in. My friends know me for having a very keen eye and I've handled an apprentice made jacket in the past and I couldn't tell the difference. Though some of these jackets are made from "lesser" materials i.e. non FQHH hides...at that price I couldn't care less!
Enjoy your latest acquisition!

BTW: Cool lining as well...

 

[Windward]

Great fit Edward - my first HWM was way to long but yours looks perfect :eusa_clap - enjoy it and congrats!

 

[Edward]

Thanks, guys... Interestingly, I noticed this evening that while it feels indistinguishable from the steerhide of my Aero MC, the Highwayman is labelled "cowhide". Definitely recommend picking up one of these if they still have it in your size....

 

[Edward]

A slight update on the Highwayman: It has had it's first couple of wears out this week. I'm coming used to the more generous fit, even right after having worn the 30s Halfbelt. To my eye it definitely works better with informal looks - denim and the likes - as opposed to collar and tie. For now, at least. Here it is on Wednesday, on the way out to work and my jive lesson:

 

[Graemsay]

Aero Waterfront

I'm curious about this one, because I keep on getting tempted by the Reversible Waterfront jacket.

What's the buffalo check wool like? Durable? (I kill linings.) Warm?