Well I finally got my Aero "Real Deal" in russet horse hide with beacon rust knits. Let me say before I talk about it that I am not an A-2 know it all. All you jackaholics already know what is and is not period accurate on them. My comments are only in comparision to my Avirex and my US Authentic and mostly MY OWN personally likes and dislikes. I love the leather, the weight is much lighter than the US Authentic, but heavier than the Avirex. The color in the photos is dead on in my monitor. It has a fair amount of jerky graining. I would have preferred more, but you get what you get. The pics shown are after I wore it around for about 2 hours after I lightly dampened it. The sleeves are much narrower than I'm used to on my Avirex but obviously more true to the originals. I paid $200 more for it than the US Authentic and waited a little over 6 weeks to get it, verses one week for the US Auth. Was it worth it. For me definitely yes. The color is so much richer on it, plus the finish and weight are exactly what I wanted. It's not a perfect jacket, the Real Deal is made from a lower quality leather than they use on their other jackets and you can see some spots that were touched up, but its still miles ahead of the US Auth and the Avirex. Mark Moye was great to work with, he is such a great communicator that after the transaction is complete you feel more like friends than just buyer and seller. Here's some pics.
I edited this to put in this pic of me wearing the US Authentic so you can see the difference in color.
Here's a shot of the shoulder showing the graining.
Here's a shot of the pocket flap, it was actually more scalloped than I expected it to be.
That jacket looks great. I only dislike the squared pockets and the color seems a bit too red for my taste. Nevertheless, your photo is much better than what Aero use in their site to promote their jackets.
However, I like the fit. And to me the fit is the most important thing.
It's nice to see comparison pics with the US Auth.
Please let me know how does its fit compares with that of the US Auth? What about the sleeves?
fedoralover wrote:Well I finally got my Aero "Real Deal" in russet horse hide with beacon rust knits....
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fedoralover
As you say, it is a beautiful rich color. I know what you mean about narrow sleeves having had a G-1 that passed through my hands (no labels or markings) that the owner claimed to be of WWII vintage. I tried getting used to it for the week or so that I was allowed but just never could get accustomed to how tight a fit the entire length of the sleeve was, much more narrow than what I see on your A-2 photos though, especially around the upper arm; that, along with the fact that the pockets seemed to have been placed further from the storm flap than any jacket I had ever seen and which mostly rode on my hips. The constant movement of my arms would continually rub against the stiff edges of the pocket flaps which irritated me to no end!
One thing I would comment on (and like other comments on) is how long the sleeve length is. In nearly every vintage photo I've seen the knit cuff IS part of the overall length. In other words, it appears to me that the sleeves are too long and the overall sleeve 'look' to be a more modern accommodation than what a military jacket of that era should be where the knit cuff showed much more prominently along the wrist. I guess that may fall under your "personally likes and dislikes" though on an extremely fine looking jacket. I'm truly envious.
that jacket is definitely gorgeous i must say and it compliments you quite nicely. i really like the color as it is not a 'usual suspect' in my mind when i picture a2 jackets. that one looks like it will just get better with age.
Thanks again for the kind words. The US Auth. was a size 40 and felt a bit tight, so I ordered the Aero in a 42. When I first put it on I thought I should have gone with a 44 but after the misting and wearing, it started to feel okay. It'll help me to keep from eating so much Breyers Ice Cream. I have mixed feelings about the sleeve length, when I'm driving or sitting they pull up perfectly and are quite comfortable, but as you can see, standing they feel a bit long. I'm guessing after a few months and it wrinkles up even more they may pull up some and be just right.
About the pockets, I wasn't sure I'd care for them either but I think they look better in person than in the pics. I wasted no time in shoving in my wallet on one side and a cell phone on the other. I don't like the totally flat pocket look, I like them stretched out some.
fedoralover wrote:Thanks again for the kind words. The US Auth. was a size 40 and felt a bit tight, so I ordered the Aero in a 42. When I first put it on I thought I should have gone with a 44 but after the misting and wearing, it started to feel okay. It'll help me to keep from eating so much Breyers Ice Cream.
fedoralover
I had that same feeling with my Aero Bootlegger. The FQHH was so darned stiff I thought I had ordered 2 sizes too small. It wasn't until I wore it for awhile that I felt comfortable. Its just that they really mold the jacket to you.
That A2 looks great on you, but I must say that I prefer Aero's seal brown to their russet.
Thanks again for the kind words. The US Auth. was a size 40 and felt a bit tight, so I ordered the Aero in a 42. When I first put it on I thought I should have gone with a 44 but after the misting and wearing, it started to feel okay. It'll help me to keep from eating so much Breyers Ice Cream. I have mixed feelings about the sleeve length, when I'm driving or sitting they pull up perfectly and are quite comfortable, but as you can see, standing they feel a bit long. I'm guessing after a few months and it wrinkles up even more they may pull up some and be just right.
Hey Fedoralover, what is your height and weight please?
Mine is pretty tight at a 42, I honestly believe I would not be able to zip up a 40 in an Aero. I was around 164 when I got the US Auth. and the size 40 made me feel like a stuffed sausage. But give it a shot.
PS--Anyone have a photo of Avirex A-2 Horse Hide they care to post
PSS--That bamboo is awesome!
I actually have one of those too Lao Feng. Here's a close up of the front, notice it is the unmatched hides, smoother on one side and very grainy on the other.
Platon, the arm diameter on the Aero at the shoulder is about 9" across.
fedoralover
