Think you're man enough to handle a BarnStormer flyboy...? No wimps allowed!!

[Salv]

Looking good! No word yet from Aero on my order, apart from the usual automatic order confirmation via email. Hopefully that means all the measurements/specifications are ok and they're getting on with it.

They quoted two weeks for mine, and I called them after two weeks-and-a-bit when I hadn't heard anything. They were just finishing the button holes, and I had it a few days later. You'll have it soon, and it will be worth the wait.

 

[Salv]

Any word from Aero yet?

 

[MJCR]

Any word from Aero yet?

No word yet, I'm getting to the stage where I want to give them a ring but as I asked for some non-standard things like the change of lining I suppose I should be patient. Hopefully it'll be this week!

 

[MJCR]

Well, I got an email yesterday saying it's on the way. The bad news is there isn't going to be anyone in to recieve it until Friday!

 

[Salv]

Well, I got an email yesterday saying it's on the way. The bad news is there isn't going to be anyone in to recieve it until Friday!

That is bad luck. But ... I think they use ParcelForce so you might be able to collect it from your local depot before Friday. I think ParcelForce can also deliver to a post office if there's one you can get to during the day. Still, at least it's on its way.

 

[matei]

Wow Salv, great pics! Wonderful colour, that jacket is something else...

Now I have something to think about when my SSIA comes due in the next coming months!

 

[Salv]

Wow Salv, great pics! Wonderful colour, that jacket is something else...

Now I have something to think about when my SSIA comes due in the next coming months!

Have you seen Docs Barnstormer? If so you'll have some idea of the weight and stiffness of the beast, but I might wear mine on Friday so you'll be able to see the colour in the flesh.

 

[Nirvana]

Salv, and others, hope you don't mind me jumping in here, the new fellow from the middle of the states....I don't know whether to thank you or curse you, you just pushed me over the edge with that Barnstormer jacket. Now the decision is which color, the brown or the cordavan, and since it is quite a bit colder here, which lining to go with.

A quick back ground, I am a pilot, but also drive a vintage roadster without a top or heater. I took the auto out this afternoon, and I had my Cirus leathers on, but didn't wear the pants. with sheepskin lined gauntlets, and my sheepskin lined aviator helmet, and was quite toasty. Weather at that time was about +15C, but windy. But for some of the days, when it is in the +15 to 30 range, the barnstormer seems like it will be just the ticket.

 

[Baggers]

Greetings, Nirvana, welcome to the Lounge! I see you've caught be Aero bug, and I'm certainly not going to make things easy for you. I found the thread that I referenced earlier, so here's a shot of me in my brown Barnstormer when I first got it. I chose the brown over the cordovan because it has a nice rich reddish hue without getting too red. After a year it has broken in nicely and started gaining some character. I had it made in a mid weight hide instead of the heavier front quarter and also with a cotton twill lining rather than the alpaca wool which would probably work best for your climate. It also has nice tight wool storm cuffs in the sleeves which should help keep the winds at bay.

With that windproof (and almost bulletproof!) horsehide, you should have one heck of a motoring coat. Add a proper scarf, and you'll be ready for anything!

Cheers!

 

["Doc" Devereux]

Have you seen Docs Barnstormer? If so you'll have some idea of the weight and stiffness of the beast, but I might wear mine on Friday so you'll be able to see the colour in the flesh.

That might be two of us, then.

Welcome Nirvana! It's only fair to warn you that sitting comfortably in the Barnstormer is a process rather than something you can do straight after taking posession. You'll need a month or two (or three!) to break it in before you can wear it comfortably in a cockpit, that's for sure. You can make it easier by leaving the bottom button undone, but there's no substitute for time with this one.

Don't let this put you off, however. I think it's fair to say that everyone here who owns one will tell you that it's worth the investment of time and effort to get it there.

 

[Salv]

Welcome Nirvana, and apologies for putting temptation your way...

Even on the coldest days in the London area I find the cotton lining to be warm enough while I'm walking around, but if you're static in an open-topped car I agree with Baggers that the alpaca lining will probably be best. And as Doc says it will take time to wear it in - the body on mine is still very stiff, but the sleeves have softened up nicely and I really like the creases that have formed in my sleeves.

 

[MJCR]

Salv, and others, hope you don't mind me jumping in here, the new fellow from the middle of the states....I don't know whether to thank you or curse you, you just pushed me over the edge with that Barnstormer jacket. Now the decision is which color, the brown or the cordavan, and since it is quite a bit colder here, which lining to go with.

A quick back ground, I am a pilot, but also drive a vintage roadster without a top or heater. I took the auto out this afternoon, and I had my Cirus leathers on, but didn't wear the pants. with sheepskin lined gauntlets, and my sheepskin lined aviator helmet, and was quite toasty. Weather at that time was about +15C, but windy. But for some of the days, when it is in the +15 to 30 range, the barnstormer seems like it will be just the ticket.

Hi there, I should have mine Friday at the latest and I'll post some pictures over the weekend - hopefully that'll help you make up your mind which colour to go for, although it should look like Bagger's (his is the one that pushed me over the edge!). If it helps any, Amanda at Aero said the aplaca lining was the most popular and very warm.

 

[Nirvana]

Baggers, to be sarcastic, you really know how to hurt me, it hurts me that I do not have what you do. That is exactly what my next jacket will be. Also your roll neck sweater, wonderful combination..

I am very pleased with the Cirrus motring jacket too, though. I am impressed with the hides that went into the making. Hind sight, I would have had the waist enlarged in the pants though, from my presnt waist size to perhaps a couple of sizes larger. Also, I would suggest to Sally to put larger braces on, as those on now seem to be a bit tight, even though I have them let out all the way. She did make the waist generous, but I think about two more inches added would have been better. When I sit down a persons mid section tends to hang down, more so than when they are standing. But other than that, I am please with the Cirrus motor jacket. I have receive many compliments on it already

But this Barnstormer!! That is a must have, no excuses.


It's windy here again today, temp is about +3C, but sunny, so I think I'll go out for a spin around the block again later today. Where I am at, I say a spin around the block, means about 25 miles west, 15 or so south, then back to the east, then back north to home.

But, Bagger, I am very glad to see you modeling your jacket, that gives a much better picture of what it will look like, rather than just lying flat.

Thank you..

Nirvana

 

[Nirvana]

Bagger question on Barnstormer

Bagger,

After studying your jacket a bit something I notice, when you have your jacket buttoned, it appears the left side of the jacket is pulled to the left. I.E. the hand warmer pocket you have your hand in appears to be further to the left side of the coat, than the right side, as well as the cargo pocket. It appears the cargo pocket is about 3/4 below your left arm, whereas the right cargo pocket appears to be more in front. Is this true? Viewed from the front, then this does not appear to be synonymous to a line drawn vertical from a necktie line.

Also, I notice when you do have it buttoned, then the left side buttons appear to be off centered on the left, and the right side buttons appear down that vertical line drawn from the neck tie down.

I would think a double breasted jacket would be equally proportioned left and right from a center line when buttoned.

Could you advise please???

Thank you,

Nirvana

 

[Baggers]

Nirvana, I think what you're seeing is an optical illusion. It's either due to the fact that I'm turned to (my) left in the picture, or a distortion caused by the camera creating a slight "fisheye" effect. Probably a combination of both. The camera itself was also a bit low when I shot the picture, so that might add to the distortion. I could have also had the coat pulled slightly askew on my body. I was working by myself using a tripod and the timer function, so with all the reaching and rushing to get back into frame before the shutter tripped it's entirely possible that the coat might not have been as squared up as it should have been. It's not like I had a stylist working with me on this shoot! lol

I just laid the jacket out, buttoned it up and measured it from the vertical line created by the outside edge of the buttons to both the handwarmers and the lower pockets, and the measurements were precisely the same at all four points, give or take an 1/8 of an inch. And just eyeballing it, everything looks squared and symmetrical.

Cheers!

 

[MJCR]

Well, in true ParcelForce fashion, they did me wrong....

They tried to deliver it today while there was no-one in, but instead of leaving instructions for re-delivery, they left it at a random Post Office way over the other side of town :rage:

As I don't drive it was going to be a major pain to go get it, so after 45 minutes on the phone to various ParceForce types (some artificial, some organic) I finally managed to convince them they were a bunch of so and so's and it needed to be picked up and re-delivered on Friday.

I'm not holding my breath...

 

[Salv]

At least you know it will definitely arrive on Friday - just don't leave the house for any reason whatsoever until it's safely inside.

 

[MJCR]

At least you know it will definitely arrive on Friday - just don't leave the house for any reason whatsoever until it's safely inside.

Ah, if only! I'm in London that day on business so I'm having to ask my girlfriend to wait in for it - she's very patient with me! It's going to be like pulling teeth waiting to get home on the train that night...

 

[Salv]

Ah, if only! I'm in London that day on business so I'm having to ask my girlfriend to wait in for it - she's very patient with me! It's going to be like pulling teeth waiting to get home on the train that night...

I know it's a long shot, but a few of us are meeting for a drink on Friday night if you're still about and want to say hello. It's probably not practical for you, but we're meeting at 7:30 to 8:00pm at the New Picadilly restaurant - more details on this thread.

 

[MJCR]

I know it's a long shot, but a few of us are meeting for a drink on Friday night if you're still about and want to say hello. It's probably not practical for you, but we're meeting at 7:30 to 8:00pm at the New Picadilly restaurant - more details on this thread.

Hi Salv

I'd love to pop by but it might be a bit late for me to get a sensible train back up to the Frozen North. Our head office is in Brentford and I'll be passing through central London on my back to Euston, but it takes 4.5 hours to get back door to door .

If I don't get the 7.05pm or the 7.35pm it's getting a bit late for the last tram (yep, I said tram) back home when I get to Manchester! I'm down at least every other week these days though, often with an overnight stay and a servere case of boredom, so if I can't make this one perhaps another time?