Feraud
Bartender
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- Hardlucksville, NY
Same here. This is an interesting topic.Well, one thing that I've learned from this thread is that President Bush really likes flight jackets.
Same here. This is an interesting topic.Well, one thing that I've learned from this thread is that President Bush really likes flight jackets.
Hacker here is your AFI 2903 note the red
Coopers and Saddlery had the side panles. just gave one away to a ROTC kid. It was not modified by pop or his 4 sons.
He actually rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He served in the PTO and was in Naval Aviation, though not an aviator. He may have achieved the second highest military rank of any modern president…Ike being first.
AF
Now THAT is a good looking, well fitting jacket! :eusa_clap
Now THAT is a good looking, well fitting jacket! :eusa_clap
Nixon was a Commandera in the Navy.
I think you overlooked a few, LBJ, Truman, Teddy Roosevelt (I am only including 20th Century on) to name a few.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Presidents_by_military_rank
Hey Dusty, Look at it this way a civilian wearing an A-2 is a compliment to the aviators (enlisted and commissioned, and civilian) past and present. Imitation is the highest form of flattery...
I think he was referencing the trend of active duty USAF non-aviators maneuvering their way through the regulations to be issued and wear the A-2.
I agree that there's a type of compliment being made when civilians want to wear issued military clothing...so long as it isn't the "wannabe" types who are doing it. Big difference in my mind between guys who are gear enthusiasts and wannabe-military-types.
Understandable. Personally, I wouldn't wear anything "issued" I didn't earn. To each his/her own however.I do believe that Obama is wearing a current issue '07 Cockpit USA jacket in the photo. I feel bad for him, since this is the same jacket I was issued and it is horrible. It weighs a ton, it's very stiff, and the color reminds me of a bottle of Yoo-Hoo. I respect him for wearing the same jacket as the troops, but hopefully after he got back aboard Air Force One he realized that we need a better jacket. I have been trying like crazy to hunt down a '99 Avirex or even a '96 Saddlery to wear in place of my current issued jacket. The bomber community takes our "bomber jackets" pretty seriously, and I know many dudes that actually wear theirs in flight.
There was one comment earlier about aircrew not wanting to wear the jacket. I will say that when I see someone who is not a flyer wearing an A-2 Leather "Flying Jacket", it loses a little bit of its "prestige". To me, the A-2 represents the end of an 8 year long journey from civilian to Mission Qualified pilot. So, it does bother me a little when I see non-rated officers and enlisted wearing it, but if you're authorized to do so, go for it. I'm going to continue to wear the heck out of mine, regardless.
I think he was referencing the trend of active duty USAF non-aviators maneuvering their way through the regulations to be issued and wear the A-2.