Aero RAF Merino skin.

John Lever · Mar 11, 2021

I love this jacket.
This is the new version from Aero using the absolutely superb merino sheepskin as used by top end companies in Japan like Real McCoys. This leather is very light and soft so wearing is easy, no dead arm when driving or on the phone as it feels like a sweater to wear.

The jacket is a described as a Battle of Britain pattern so would equate to a jacket typical from around 1940, with a slightly smaller rounded collar.
I won't describe the buckles and zips used as this information is better provided on the Aero website.
The outer is quite a light russet colour with matching russet seam strips. Surface texture is slightly crazed producing a pleasent colour comlex caused by reflection. The fleece is quite short at about 18 mm. One of the best characteristics of the design is the arm shape, quite full with a great taper, and length reaching to the knuckles like on originals. Back length is longer than some others so reaches just below belt level on jeans . The collar strap is of a generous length so fastening is an easy operation when compared to some others where the strap is just too short. The waist belt is set at a very pleasing distance from the waist seam so when the belt is tightened the lower material puckers up very well.

At 800 GBP this is very good value for money for a superb easy to wear warm comfortable stylish jacket with a great vintage look.

I am 5 10 and weigh 170 pounds, I like a very loose fit on

John Lever · Mar 11, 2021

Sorry about the images mix up, my tablet doesn't work well on this forum.

Davy Crockett · Mar 11, 2021

Lovely jacket, and a great fit for that type of jacket.
D

Peacoat · Mar 11, 2021

Love the jacket and the fit. That is just the ticket to keep the damp English winter off of you.

Edward · Mar 11, 2021

Perfect fit, imo. I like an Irvin with a bit of room in it too. Insert disclaimer to the effect that there was no "true wartime fit" to such an issued garment here....nonetheless, the ones that always look best to me in period photos were the ones that look just a size bigger than "correct" size. Aero have really nailed the arm pattern now, which is great to see. Their Irvins were always beautifully made, but before Ken came back and redrafted the pattern in 2012, they were very drainpipe- shaped; one of the joys of an Irvin is that lovely, tapering curve to the sleeve. I like this era of the Irvin in particular - I couldn't tell you why (I like them all, of course), but there's something special about the 'eight panel' look to my eye. I've promised myself a significant 50th birthday present in a few years; if I've not managed it before then, I have my eye on the CC version of this one...

Tusche · Mar 11, 2021

Perfect
Definitely my next Irvin!

dubpynchon · Mar 11, 2021

Great review, looks like Aero are back on my radar for an Irvin (at some point... in the future)

navetsea · Mar 11, 2021

cool jacket but the black elastic (or webbing) strap behind the collar ruins the color scheme, maybe it is historical accurate but I would swap it with some earth-tone, olive, beige, tan strap in a heartbeat.

Davy Crockett · Mar 12, 2021

Those elastic straps are historically accurate but if you dont like them you can simply unclip it and wear it without, I think they were intended to hold the collar up when piloting your plane so you didn't have to keep adjusting the floppy sheepskin collar and taking your hands away from the joystick, I may be wrong but I think the elastic strap was placed over the forehead.
D

Edward · Mar 12, 2021

Davy Crockett said:
Those elastic straps are historically accurate but if you dont like them you can simply unclip it and wear it without, I think they were intended to hold the collar up when piloting your plane so you didn't have to keep adjusting the floppy sheepskin collar and taking your hands away from the joystick, I may be wrong but I think the elastic strap was placed over the forehead.
D

Never heard of that being done, but yes, the elastic was to give a floppy collar a bit of standing power. On mine, anyhow, it doesn't have to go anywhere other than where it sits on the collar to have the effect.

Colour wise, I think the originals I've seen were all black. Likely what was available, given it was only every intended to be utilitarian. Pretty sure I've seen all sorts of colours on original RAF goggles.

John Lever · Mar 12, 2021

I have put the elastic strap over my head. The idea is that it raises the collar using one hand only.

Dumpster Diver · Mar 12, 2021

That looks like a Really Great Jacket on you!

Robbie79 · Mar 12, 2021

Great looking jacket! If temperature here was colder I would also buy this one from you after the RMCNZ B3. It was a pleasure for me to deal with you and GLWS!!

John Lever · Mar 13, 2021

Kindly on loan from Aero......
The best RAF jacket on the market in terms of fit, looks and value. Beautifully made.

Worf · Mar 13, 2021

I've an Aero Pre-war and I love it. I'd wear it more but I've lost so much weight over the years it fits like a tent. Your jacket makes me want to have it cut down so I can wear it again... still those left handed zips drive me mad! Great looking jacket, you do it justice....

Worf

John Lever · Mar 13, 2021

Worf said:
I've an Aero Pre-war and I love it. I'd wear it more but I've lost so much weight over the years it fits like a tent. Your jacket makes me want to have it cut down so I can wear it again... still those left handed zips drive me mad! Great looking jacket, you do it justice....

Worf

Left handed indeed !

Edward · Mar 14, 2021

John Lever said:
I have put the elastic strap over my head. The idea is that it raises the collar using one hand only.

Was there a clip somewhere on the helmet that would have helped hold the elastic in place?

Edward · Mar 14, 2021

John Lever said:
Kindly on loan from Aero......
The best RAF jacket on the market in terms of fit, looks and value. Beautifully made.

Quite the recommendation from John as one of our major experts on the fleece jackets.

John Lever · Mar 14, 2021

Edward said:
Was there a clip somewhere on the helmet that would have helped hold the elastic in place?

Not sure about that, but the strap does have a function even if it makes you look like Benny Hill....as my wife pointed out.

Edward · Mar 14, 2021

John Lever said:
Not sure about that, but the strap does have a function even if it makes you look like Benny Hill....as my wife pointed out.

Ha! It's interesting to know it works that way - I'd always assumed that it just being there at the back of the collar like a 'stiffener' was how it worked. What I'm learning here makes more sense. As an idea, it's just so wonderfully utilitarian, I can almost imagine it being a sort of 'field mod' during testing, which ended up on the final production item because it was a cheap and easy solution. Inelegant, maybe, but I can't imagine that truly mattered to the RAF boys in a freezing cockpit with some 'Fokker' on their tail trying to gun them out of the sky. Other priorities!

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