What type of Aero flying jacket is this?

[tweedydon]

This eBay flying jacket has been puzzling me for a while, as it doesn't seem to fit any of Aero's current models. (Indeed, I wonder if it even if an Aero!) IS it a modification of something, or a defunct model? Any light that could be shed would be welcome! (The auction's over, and it's not my size--this is just a curiosity post!)

 

[Dinerman]

Looks like an Irvin with modified pockets and no belt.

 

[tweedydon]

Thanks--I was thinking the same. Is the label a standard Aero label for this type of jacket--and are the zips Aero zips, or reproductions? I take it that "ALC" stands for "Aero Leather Company"?

 

[Big J]

I think that this jacket is very long for an Irvin pattern- look at the length of the sleeves relative to the body. This is an Aero Irvin with some serious changes.

 

[Sloan1874]

This would've been done under the old regime as a request. In fact, I seem to remember this, or something very similar, on their sale pages a couple of years back. The zips would have been standard at the time, but they use period accurate ones now. I think the labels are pretty much the same.

 

[tweedydon]

That's a very good point about the length of the jacket--as someone new to Irvins I would have missed this! I does look more like a car coat length than a flying jacket length.

I take it that judging just by the pictures it IS an Aero Irvin, though? Also, can anyone speak to the zips--are they Aero's own brand?

Also--and strictly out of curiosity--whoever bought this paid about $400. Is this a decent price for this, or not? I'm curious, simply as I'm in the market for a used Irvin and I'm still poking around finding out about prices!

Thanks to all!

 

[wdw]

I seem to remember this, or something very similar, on their sale pages a couple of years back.

I remember that one too. It was a car coat length one and just looked weird. It's good that these sorts of monstrosities are no longer allowed.

 

[tweedydon]

I remember that one too. It was a car coat length one and just looked weird. It's good that these sorts of monstrosities are no longer allowed.

Or maybe allowed, but strongly discouraged!

Thanks to all for your help, by the way! The more I look at this, the weirder it seems....

 

[rocketeer]

I remember that one too. It was a car coat length one and just looked weird. It's good that these sorts of monstrosities are no longer allowed.

I think this comment is a bit unfair really, looks a bit like a brown D1, though I know it is based on an Irvin.
Yes it is obviously a custom jacket, but it is just what someone wanted at the time and it is not that bad considering what some original jacket details were like. Take an old favourite, the USAAF B3. Only half the zip tape is covered[huh], Whats that about? Only one pocket(Yes leather was scarce in WWII but the ANJ4 had two), and those awful shoulder tabs when not fixed down with rank or simply sewn down. There is also a full length sheepskin coat, a B7 I think, not for me at all but yes it is probably very warm though it's looks would be an acquired taste in my opinion.

 

[Sloan1874]

Not a fan myself. Definitely warm, but the mods mean it strays too close to Del Boy territory for my taste :eeek:. My problem with really heavy modifications is that they seem to lose the basic character/spirit of the original. In the case of this Irvin, to me there's a hint of the 1970s about it, which I guess could be quite cool if that was what you were after, but it lacks the distinct look of the Irvin. However, I would kill for a B-7 at the moment!

Rocketeer's right, though, not every detail on the originals is great: the hook and eye on an A-2 is a royal pain. You'd think a snap would have been just as good!

But I'm pretty sure this is an Aero: the zips definitely look like Aero's talons with a long leather puller (some have Aero printed on them too, but not all) and that is a slightly older version of the current Irvin label. Interesting that it's come up for sale again, wonder if it just proved too warm for the British climate. Maybe $400 for curiosity value and Aero build, but I wouldn't go for it myself.

 

[Edward]

I agree that it has the look of a civilan, Seventies generic fashion "flying jacket" about it. Subjective taste is subjective taste; I think it's hateful, but I'm sure someone would love it. I just don't get why you'd spend that kind of coin on having a premium maker produce something you could buy close-enough to as an original 70s piece on ebay, for £20 or thereabouts. [huh] Can't imagine Aero agreeing to this now, but I imagine there are alternative suppliers with the time and inclination to run this up in an afternoon if somebody really wanted one. [huh]

Might be possible to hem that one shorter so it doesn't look so out of balance, though it could still end up looking odd if the pocket placement looks too close to the hem. Back in the days of Mark Moye and Aero USA, they did sell a cilivianised B3, which was a regular B3 with these B6 style zipped pockets. That looked quite sharp (would have been nice in black fleece, too), but this just looks out of whack in the same way as those current fashion dresses for ladies which look very mid fifties until you see them worn, and they're cut to the mid thigh, making the design look all wrongly proportioned.