The Eagle has landed again...in 2009....

[bobjones]

Hi all TFLers, and it is time to once again brief all of you on the unexpected item that turned up at my building today...my new (and corrected) Aero Highwayman in brown regular FQHH.

Will was sneaky in sending it out and not telling me, as I suggested they could (and preferably, should ) wait until August when they get back from vacation before re-making the jacket, as I didn't want them to rush it out before they shut down for the July timeout - but he did anyway, and he didn't even send me an email. That SOB

Anyway, he snuck it in under the radar, and perfected the sizing and addressed minor construction issue (storm cuffs) of the earlier Hwyman from just a few weeks back.

The jacket is gorgeous, a darker brown than my 2008 Stockman, and is the perfect complement to it. I wish I had this jacket 10 years ago, it would have saved me alot of money from wasted purchases:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/bobjones_aero/IMG_0006-2.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/bobjones_aero/IMG_0011.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/bobjones_aero/IMG_0008.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/bobjones_aero/IMG_0007-2.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/bobjones_aero/IMG_0004-1.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/bobjones_aero/IMG_0002-1.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/bobjones_aero/IMG_0001.jpg

Sorry for the lousy photos, if anyone is really desirous of better shots, let me know, and I'll take more tomorrow.

Interestingly, there was a spot on the left shoulder where there was a cut in the leather similar to what Southernwayfare mentioned here:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=819345&postcount=1

but given my experience with the Stockman, the jacket is going to get its a$$ kicked, either by me, or by the elements, wear and tear, etc. so I am just not as sensitive as if this were my first Aero. If it was my first, I might be more affected by it - now its just its first battle scar in a very long war to soften the jacket and tame the hide. I do not artificially do anything except knead the jacket by hand while watching TV...

 

[JLStorm]

Wow...didnt you just send your other jacket back in the last week or 2? That is almost unbelievable turn around....I thought you were joking when I first read your post. Congrats on the jacket, it looks like it fits well.

 

[bobjones]

Wow...didnt you just send your other jacket back in the last week or 2? That is almost unbelievable turn around....I thought you were joking when I first read your post. Congrats on the jacket, it looks like it fits well.

Will had asked for a document describing what the items were that needed to be fixed, so I typed one up quickly and emailed it to them. They must have gotten started on the jacket as soon as the email reached them.

The jacket is a standard Hwyman with a gun pocket on the left inside and a straigh yoke in the back without storm cuffs, that's really it, so once they got started it shouldn't have taken them long to make it.

Funny enough, here is the earlier one they sent:

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/...e?page=displayproduct&subcatid=32&prodid=3476

 

[JLStorm]

At least the leather didnt go to waste

 

[Southernwayfare]

Great looking jacket. Congratulations. I love the dark brown FQHH. I wanted my Cheyenne in the same DARK brown FQHH. For whatever reason, Amanda told me they didn't have any that was that dark so I went with the vintage brown which was significantly darker than the leather of my original coat. Anyway, your jacket looks great.

If you feel anything like me, the quick turn around from Aero is a mixed blessing - its great to have it in my hands but its killing me not to be able to wear it. It was a "cool" summer night in Boston on Friday (64 F) so I wore it out to a movie. I have to admit I was a bit out of place - everyone else was taking the opportunity to wear shorts and t shirts to enjoy the Boston summer and I was in a big leather coat. If they only knew!

The turn around on my replacment coat was also amazingly quick. I confirmed the details with Amanda on June 25 and the coat was in the mail to me on July 2nd (arrived July 8th)! That's 5-6 working days to make the coat.

BTW, my original coat is also for sale at Aero.

 

[Cooperson]

Very nice jacket Bob, glad you got sorted in the end. Love the dark brown color and the fit looks perfect - enjoy.

 

[Southernwayfare]

so I am just not as sensitive as if this were my first Aero

Nice. What ever it takes... Let's see a pic of that "cut", Mr. Tough Guy.

 

[bobjones]

Nice. What ever it takes... Let's see a pic of that "cut", Mr. Tough Guy.

Ok, here it is:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/bobjones_aero/100_2261.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/bobjones_aero/100_2265.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/bobjones_aero/100_2262.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/bobjones_aero/100_2263.jpg

And another of the jacket itself:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/bobjones_aero/100_2257.jpg

 

[univibe88]

I love the liner. Which one is that?

 

[eClairvaux]

That's the black stewart worsted wool tartan:
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/6756507

This is the respective page of Lochcarron, the supplier Aero uses:
http://www.lochcarron.com/tartanstrome/stewart_black.html

 

[univibe88]

Thanks. I was hoping that was black stewart. That is what I have selected for my jacket that is on order.

 

[bobjones]

Thanks. I was hoping that was black stewart. That is what I have selected for my jacket that is on order.

It might be my sensitivities, but the black modern stewart seems a little bit of a heavier weave than the reiver tartan I got for my Stockman, though I could be wrong. I do think it is a gorgeous liner, certainly not subtle like the reiver was, which is more "vintage" than the stewart for sure.

The current batch of brown FQHH Aero is using is also darker than last year's and I'll post a comparison shot of the 2 if i get a chance tonight.

 

[univibe88]

The current batch of brown FQHH Aero is using is also darker than last year's and I'll post a comparison shot of the 2 if i get a chance tonight.

I want a dark jacket. I hope mine gets made with some of that batch! I feel like I'm never going to get my jacket. lol

 

[bobjones]

I want a dark jacket. I hope mine gets made with some of that batch! I feel like I'm never going to get my jacket. lol

That's only because they had to make mine first...

 

[Lear]

Bobjones, I have no experience with Aero jackets (as opposed to coats), but that looks perfect to my untrained eye. Not too tight, yet without excessive bagginess. The arm length also looks spot on.

It compliments your body shape better than I would have expected. Either that, or the earlier Stockman pics were taken from an unflattering angle. The lining looks great too. If it wasn't for the milder UK winters we seem to be having, I'd go for the same tartan.

You must be very pleased with the results... Enjoy!

 

[Mr. 'H']

my new (and corrected) Aero Highwayman in brown regular FQHH.

worthlesswithoutpics:

whistling:

Just making it easier on everyone's eyes:

 

[bobjones]

Bobjones, I have no experience with Aero jackets (as opposed to coats), but that looks perfect to my untrained eye. Not too tight, yet without excessive bagginess. The arm length also looks spot on.

It compliments your body shape better than I would have expected. Either that, or the earlier Stockman pics were taken from an unflattering angle. The lining looks great too. If it wasn't for the milder UK winters we seem to be having, I'd go for the same tartan.

You must be very pleased with the results... Enjoy!

Hi Lear, and thanks so much for the kind words.

This is my first "short" leather jacket, but even my wife said the fit was very good. I must say that in comparison to HD's snug fitting Hwyman, I prefer a looser fit, especially since I do wear heavy sweaters (jumpers to you Brits) in the winter. It is marked "44" - so maybe in Aero's blueprints I am a 44, as the 42 I had was just too tight. This re-make has a bit more excess in the panel under the pull-straps, and it isn't necessary to open them fully just to zip the jacket over a t-shirt.

For those wondering about the numbers, I measured it flat on the floor, as I asked for the remake to add only one inch and it came out to be 26" from armpit to armpit. I am 5-10 1/2" and the bottom lands one inch below my belt as the back is 25" from collar seam to bottom jacket edge.

The Stockman is a different fit for sure, and I put it on yesterday and the hide is now so much softer - even after only one year of heavy wear - compared to how it was brand new. The jacket has significantly molded to my (pear-like) shape better than I would have thought.

As for the lining, it is still a cotton-wool twill like the Reiver, and I think people might find it more comfortable than not. Aero can send a sample of it when they return August 3rd.