Weeeeellllll.....looking at your sizing chart, and measuring a known good fit A2, looks like adding 1inch to the sleeves, and 1 inch to the back.....should be about right.
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Aerial Star Vintage Leather Jackets - Official Affiliate Thread
- Thread starter Aerial Star
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Worf
I'll Lock Up
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- 5,175
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- Troy, New York, USA
I love the contrasting stitching on your jackets. As for the hanger question, in that you're not using a re-pro model/name-tag you could go either way. I prefer the flat traditional hangers myself though.
Worf
Worf
Edward
Bartender
- Messages
- 24,789
- Location
- London, UK
I like the traditional hangers too. I never actually use them on my jackets, but even so they're just a nice detail to have.
jacket orders placed by the first 10 FL members get deferred payment on their third installment until Jan. 2014 (double check with Chris on this but it sounds like that's what he is doing). If you order, Chris takes your credit card info, gets pre-approval for the first payment (for US customers) but does not charge anything up front. When your jacket arrives, try on, if you like it, it fits, he charges the first of three payments. See sizing chart on his site for standard sizes. Chris is the owner of this new venture and has a pattern maker as well as someone who makes the jackets. Its all based in NY. Free shipping for US customers. Chris plans to add a few more styles and focus on civi jackets. The hides are from the US. He has all of the supplies in stock to take orders/make jackets. The idea with this venture is to offer a handful of jacket styles with nice quality materials at a reasonable price.
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nick123
I'll Lock Up
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I should mention last week, I asked Chris a couple of questions via email and he responded in such a welcoming and detailed manner that I was really impressed. I'm in the process of placing an order for the two-way pocket A-2. A review will follow in a few weeks.
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I'm really looking forward to some jackets/reviews emerging onto the forums from this manufacturer. Am very tempted to place an order but want to know things like how flimsy or not the knits are and seeing some delivered jackets would increase my confidence for pulling the trigger. Anyone else put an order in?
nick123
I'll Lock Up
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- California
Hang tight. Will post a review once it arrives. If I had any reservations about quality, I wouldn't have pushed the button.
One more thing: Tall sizes are now an option. (Thank you Nick).
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nick123
I'll Lock Up
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T-1 week.
Brettafett
One Too Many
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This is great! I am looking at picking up a new jacket, your offerings look good and reasonably priced. Had a conversation the other day about how good it would be to have some more competition in the jacket market 
Do you send out samples overseas?
Apologies if I have simply not read any info properly, wanted to ask... is your A-2 based on any particular WW2 contract pattern or is it your generic 'take'?
Will be in touch.
Leather hanger.... Leave it off.
Great website, easy to navigate and visually appealing...
Do you send out samples overseas?
Apologies if I have simply not read any info properly, wanted to ask... is your A-2 based on any particular WW2 contract pattern or is it your generic 'take'?
Will be in touch.
Leather hanger.... Leave it off.
Great website, easy to navigate and visually appealing...
JB17COT
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 64
- Location
- UK Richmond
Jackets look really good, and I like the multiple payment options. After all one of the key hurdles for us A-2 enthusiasts is the price…. I emailed Chris via their website to check how the payments / shipping options work for non-US customers.
Do share that information when you receive it!
Brettafett
One Too Many
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Yes, the knits 'look' good, but I am also wondering about flimsiness... Looking forward to some news.
I also sent an email asking some more details, options of offer and shipping opts for overseas customers.... Will comment once I receive a reply...
I also sent an email asking some more details, options of offer and shipping opts for overseas customers.... Will comment once I receive a reply...
JB17COT
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 64
- Location
- UK Richmond
Ok, Chris kindly replied, and good news for non-US buyers (at least in the UK) - the jacket can be paid in 3 monthly instalments, and also you don't pay until you've received the jacket, tried it on and confirmed you like it! He's told me he's happy to pay some of the shipping costs (up to $25). All sounds really helpful! We should get some pictures posted today of one of his customer's new jacket.... look forward.
Brettafett
One Too Many
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Received this response from Chris regarding their patterns and the reasoning behind their approach...
Thought you all would be interested.
"On the website you see a seal brown model 7303. The wool wristlets and waistband are a lighter shade of brown than the seal leather. The lining is 100% cotton. It is combed cotton and is tightly woven. It's made in America and it's really a great fabric to use for the lining. The color of the lining is light brown.
You can read about "combing" here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combing
Now, let me answer your question regarding WWII contract models.
Other companies are doing these, and we think it's fantastic. But what we want to do is focus on the spectacular vintage civilian jackets of the early/mid twentieth century. That being said, we greatly appreciate the military version -- or rather versions -- of the A-2. Looking at a lot of old civilian flight jackets, you find that many did not have epaulets constructed and positioned like those on military A-2's. We like the way the original A-2 epaulets were constructed and positioned. When a man is standing straight with his shoulders back, the epaulet should be right on top of his shoulders. That's the best positioning for the epaulet, in my opinion. Also, civilian leather flight jackets had three-piece sleeves. We go with the military sleeve construction -- the two-piece sleeve. The two-piece sleeve, in my opinion, looks better. Our wool wristlets are seamless, and the upper part is wider, just like the original A-2 wristlets were made.
So, we always keep the original A-2 in mind when creating a civilian flight jacket model.
The problem with replicating a WWII contract is that it really restricts us from making the jacket pattern the best it could be. For example, I really like the Dubow style. Now, the Dubow doesn't have the rotated sleeve seam. The rotated sleeve seam is, in my opinion, quite important. It takes longer for the factory to build a jacket with rotated sleeve seams, but it is the superior sleeve construction. The sleeve seams on the Dubow line up with the side seam on the body. Now, if we made a 100% exact Dubow replica, we couldn't make it with the superior sleeve construction. That's just one example. Each manufacturer back in the 40's had the freedom to make their A-2 pattern the way they wanted it. We wanted to give our pattern maker that same freedom. I believe our pattern maker has done a fantastic job on the pattern. It is very well tailored. Tailored doesn't necessarily mean "tight" fitting. A jacket can be very well tailored, but still have some room, making it comfortable to wear. This is especially important when using heavy horsehide or steerhide leather. A jacket made from thick, firm leather can be comfortable to wear once broken in with the right pattern.
Regarding the armholes, our pattern maker was very concerned with both the size of the armhole and the positioning. The armhole should not be too low, because that will cause the body of the jacket to lift up. Our pattern maker also made the upper part of the sleeves with some room. The sleeves have the proper curvature, and taper down nicely towards the wool wristlets. But the upper part has room, and this is very important. If the upper part doesn't have some room, you'll feel tightness in your shoulders when you stretch your arms straight out in front of you. With the way our pattern maker has made the armhole and sleeves, along with the rotated seam, our A-2's have good, comfortable arm movement.
Much time and care has gone into creating our patterns. The neckline, the size and shape of the collar, body panel tapering, size and positioning of the armhole, sleeve curvature and tapering -- everything has been done with great care.
We would rather build standard jacket models rather than making custom jackets. At some point we would like to have jackets in stock and ready to ship right out to customers. We're probably going to be keeping both regular and tall sizes in stock."
Thought you all would be interested.
"On the website you see a seal brown model 7303. The wool wristlets and waistband are a lighter shade of brown than the seal leather. The lining is 100% cotton. It is combed cotton and is tightly woven. It's made in America and it's really a great fabric to use for the lining. The color of the lining is light brown.
You can read about "combing" here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combing
Now, let me answer your question regarding WWII contract models.
Other companies are doing these, and we think it's fantastic. But what we want to do is focus on the spectacular vintage civilian jackets of the early/mid twentieth century. That being said, we greatly appreciate the military version -- or rather versions -- of the A-2. Looking at a lot of old civilian flight jackets, you find that many did not have epaulets constructed and positioned like those on military A-2's. We like the way the original A-2 epaulets were constructed and positioned. When a man is standing straight with his shoulders back, the epaulet should be right on top of his shoulders. That's the best positioning for the epaulet, in my opinion. Also, civilian leather flight jackets had three-piece sleeves. We go with the military sleeve construction -- the two-piece sleeve. The two-piece sleeve, in my opinion, looks better. Our wool wristlets are seamless, and the upper part is wider, just like the original A-2 wristlets were made.
So, we always keep the original A-2 in mind when creating a civilian flight jacket model.
The problem with replicating a WWII contract is that it really restricts us from making the jacket pattern the best it could be. For example, I really like the Dubow style. Now, the Dubow doesn't have the rotated sleeve seam. The rotated sleeve seam is, in my opinion, quite important. It takes longer for the factory to build a jacket with rotated sleeve seams, but it is the superior sleeve construction. The sleeve seams on the Dubow line up with the side seam on the body. Now, if we made a 100% exact Dubow replica, we couldn't make it with the superior sleeve construction. That's just one example. Each manufacturer back in the 40's had the freedom to make their A-2 pattern the way they wanted it. We wanted to give our pattern maker that same freedom. I believe our pattern maker has done a fantastic job on the pattern. It is very well tailored. Tailored doesn't necessarily mean "tight" fitting. A jacket can be very well tailored, but still have some room, making it comfortable to wear. This is especially important when using heavy horsehide or steerhide leather. A jacket made from thick, firm leather can be comfortable to wear once broken in with the right pattern.
Regarding the armholes, our pattern maker was very concerned with both the size of the armhole and the positioning. The armhole should not be too low, because that will cause the body of the jacket to lift up. Our pattern maker also made the upper part of the sleeves with some room. The sleeves have the proper curvature, and taper down nicely towards the wool wristlets. But the upper part has room, and this is very important. If the upper part doesn't have some room, you'll feel tightness in your shoulders when you stretch your arms straight out in front of you. With the way our pattern maker has made the armhole and sleeves, along with the rotated seam, our A-2's have good, comfortable arm movement.
Much time and care has gone into creating our patterns. The neckline, the size and shape of the collar, body panel tapering, size and positioning of the armhole, sleeve curvature and tapering -- everything has been done with great care.
We would rather build standard jacket models rather than making custom jackets. At some point we would like to have jackets in stock and ready to ship right out to customers. We're probably going to be keeping both regular and tall sizes in stock."
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Aerial Star
Vendor
- Messages
- 11
- Location
- New York
Here are some photos of the Model 7302 that we built for Nick.
It's a great-looking civilian version of the A-2 flight jacket. It has two-way pockets, and it's made without collar snaps, throat clasp, hanger, and ventilation eyelets.
It's a great-looking civilian version of the A-2 flight jacket. It has two-way pockets, and it's made without collar snaps, throat clasp, hanger, and ventilation eyelets.
Metatron
One Too Many
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- United Kingdom
I like the thorough email. That's some good customer service.
Brettafett
One Too Many
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- UK
Looks darn nice. Nick! Looking forward to pics and a review with some honest comparisons...
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