cockpit usa or us authentic

Captain Krunch · Mar 20, 2014

I have a G&B Mark 43, and I purchased the G&B Air Force A-2 for my dad. Both are great jackets, and you can't go wrong with either one. The Mark 43 leather is tough as nails, although I did have to send the jacket back because the lining was deteriorating after only a few years - the only black mark against an otherwise fine product.

dsgnxa · Mar 20, 2014

Fanch said:
Dsgnxa, you must be sure of sizing since you are shown to live in China since any return or exchange would be expensive for you. My size 44 (long) Aero Bronco A-2 fits tighter than a size 40T (long) G&B historic A-2 Model 31, at least based on my experience. Whenever a jacket doesn't work out for me, it is invariably related to incorrect fit. Always ask for accurate measurements, particularly pit to pit, sleeves, shoulder, and body. Good luck with your quest.

Thank you for your reminder. It's really right. Yes I live in China. And I will buy the jacket online. It is exactly the shipping charge is very expensive. It will be a problem for return and exchange. And I know the size chart is a little bit difference to different brands. So I will always ask for the measurements. Thank you again.

Fanch · Mar 20, 2014

Living in China, my advice would be to order the less expensive US Air Force version and carefully assess the measurements. Normally I wear a 44 long sports coat but wear a 40T or 42T at the largest for any G&B A-2. Good luck with your purchase with whatever you choose.

Flash · Mar 20, 2014

dsgnxa: And what about The Bill Kelso house model A-2. It is not expensive. Costs €450 + €40 shipping. Jacket looks very good. And customer service is exceptional. Andy is very helpful.

TXFlyGuy · Mar 20, 2014

Fanch said:
Living in China, my advice would be to order the less expensive US Air Force version and carefully assess the measurements. Normally I wear a 44 long sports coat but wear a 40T or 42T at the largest for any G&B A-2. Good luck with your purchase with whatever you choose.

Living in China? Here is a thought. Many of my fellow pilots go to China on a regular basis (Hong Kong / Shanghai), and while there have clothing custom tailored for them. This would include leather jackets. Can't you find a local leather goods tailor and have a jacket made for you??? This would be far less expensive, no shipping costs, and it would be a spot on fit.

Seb Lucas · Mar 20, 2014

My Chinese friends say it's bloody hard to get decent tailoring there. I've never tried myself.

TXFlyGuy · Mar 20, 2014

Seb Lucas said:
My Chinese friends say it's bloody hard to get decent tailoring there. I've never tried myself.

I have had two suits tailored there, plus a lot of my friends get their uniforms custom made there. Have not heard any complaints at all!

There must be many good tailors there based on the number of import jackets for sale in the US.

andyfalzon · Mar 20, 2014

dsgnxa: And what about The Bill Kelso house model A-2. It is not expensive. Costs €450 + €40 shipping. Jacket looks very good. And customer service is exceptional. Andy is very helpful.

Pleased to let you know that our Bill Kelso 29971 A-2 jacket will soon be available in our new Horsehide Mark 31 which is the exact same that G&B use as we are buying it from the same tannery.

Doctor Damage · Mar 20, 2014

Fanch said:
Dsgnxa, you must be sure of sizing since you are shown to live in China since any return or exchange would be expensive for you. My size 44 (long) Aero Bronco A-2 fits tighter than a size 40T (long) G&B historic A-2 Model 31, at least based on my experience. Whenever a jacket doesn't work out for me, it is invariably related to incorrect fit. Always ask for accurate measurements, particularly pit to pit, sleeves, shoulder, and body. Good luck with your quest.

dsgnxa said:
Thank you for your reminder. It's really right. Yes I live in China. And I will buy the jacket online. It is exactly the shipping charge is very expensive. It will be a problem for return and exchange. And I know the size chart is a little bit difference to different brands. So I will always ask for the measurements. Thank you again.

G&B's size chart is meaningless so ignore it. Contact them directly and ask for exact measurements. I did and they were happy to give measurements. As Fanch has said elsewhere, their jackets fit BIG, and I don't care what anyone else says, there's no rational reason for a size 42 jacket to have a 27" chest!

thor · Mar 20, 2014

Some manufacturer's jackets have a very wide sleeve as well as body/torso and if you are on the slim side (without Arnold Schwarzenegger biceps) the jacket sleeve will also feel and appear more "blousey" and loose. The US Authentic A-2 has a somewhat trim sleeve IMHO. Just another fit factor to keep in mind.

Fanch · Mar 20, 2014

Thor, what you say is very true. Since I am built more like a stick than Arnold S, the historic A-2 seems to fit me better than some of the contemporary ones. Hence my preference. I will say that a jacket that is a smidgen too big is far more acceptable than one that is a smidgen too small. I think that I recall a recent thread by another FL member (Muyjingo) that received an AL jacket that was one size too small that was quickly returned. Any garment or shoes too tight will always make me frown.

Doctor Strange · Mar 20, 2014

Note that US Authentic A-2s are cut trim but long.

My size 44R US A was over an inch and half longer in the body than my 46R Gibson & Barnes A-2! (The sleeves on both were too long for me - tunneling on both - so I'm not sure what the difference was there, but the US A's wrist knits themselves were nearly an inch longer. Of course, I don't really know what bearing my circa-2002 jackets has on today's models.)

TXFlyGuy · Mar 20, 2014

Doctor Damage said:
G&B's size chart is meaningless so ignore it. Contact them directly and ask for exact measurements. I did and they were happy to give measurements. As Fanch has said elsewhere, their jackets fit BIG, and I don't care what anyone else says, there's no rational reason for a size 42 jacket to have a 27" chest!

My G&B Civil A-2, layed flat out on a table, faced down, measures 23.75" pit to pit, seam to seam. My jacket is a 42R.

The sleeve length and body length are spot on perfect...way better fit than my Schott / US Wings G-1.

Fanch · Mar 20, 2014

TXFlyGuy said:
My G&B Civil A-2, layed flat out on a table, faced down, measures 23.75" pit to pit, seam to seam. My jacket is a 42R.

The sleeve length and body length are spot on perfect...way better fit than my Schott / US Wings G-1.

Do you know about what year your G&B Civil A-2 was made?

andyfalzon · Mar 20, 2014

Some manufacturer's jackets have a very wide sleeve as well as body/torso and if you are on the slim side (without Arnold Schwarzenegger biceps) the jacket sleeve will also feel and appear more "blousey" and loose. The US Authentic A-2 has a somewhat trim sleeve IMHO. Just another fit factor to keep in mind.

The US Ath has a big armhole. The G&B is full cut but better pattern IMHO. I think the Cockpit pattern beats both.

TXFlyGuy · Mar 20, 2014

Fanch said:
Do you know about what year your G&B Civil A-2 was made?

My A-2 was made December, 2013.

Seb Lucas · Mar 20, 2014

Doctor Damage said:
G&B's size chart is meaningless so ignore it. Contact them directly and ask for exact measurements. I did and they were happy to give measurements. As Fanch has said elsewhere, their jackets fit BIG, and I don't care what anyone else says, there's no rational reason for a size 42 jacket to have a 27" chest!

And as I've said before, I've had 4 G&B jackets now and chest size has been just under 24 inches. Maybe an inch too large but 5 inches, no way.

TXFlyGuy · Mar 20, 2014

Seb Lucas said:
And as I've said before, I've had 4 G&B jackets now and chest size has been just under 24 inches. Maybe an inch too large but 5 inches, no way.

+1000

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