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Think you're man enough to handle a BarnStormer flyboy...? No wimps allowed!!

Creeping Past

One Too Many
Messages
1,567
Location
England
PaulC said:
As for the handwarmers,would that mean the pockets would have to be patchwork style like the Stockman?

The one I'm planning, if finances hold till Autumn, would not have patch pockets. But it's your jacket and your choice...
 

Boris K

One of the Regulars
Messages
156
Location
USA
.

Congrats on the 40th, PaulC. Good of your wife to buy such a nice gift for you.

The halfbelt idea sounds interesting. It will not, IMO, make it look out of balance. I wear the belt begind all the time, like you do with your trench. That pinches the middle a bit so it fits nicely, and essentially removes the belt when I don't want to deal with it.

For hand warming, I just use the large pockets. My barnstormer has cotton drill lining and is warm enough for me most of the time.

brnstmBelt.jpg
 

1911 Man

A-List Customer
Messages
350
Location
Utah
See, when I button my Barnstormer, I always have to fasten the belt, else it looks out of sorts to me. I also just use the big pockets for handwarming.
 

tonypaj

Practically Family
Messages
659
Location
Divonne les Bains, France
PaulC said:
Morning Folks,

My 40th is looming and my lovely wife is buying me a new Aero,and although it's the wrong time of year,i'm drawn to the Barnstormer or Mariner.Amanda tells me that,in her opinion the Barnstormer is a nicer jacket,and i prefer the styling,so at the moment i'm heading to a Barnstormer but with Mariner half belt back - i have a belted trench and a Belstaff which i cinch the belt at the back,so i thought i could do without the belt given the option.What do Barnstormer owners think..would that work..would the jacket look out of balance without the belt?
Any Mariner owners out there want to chip in too...any help or advice would be gratefully recieved.
Mariner with Barnstormer detail...Barnstormer with Mariner half belt...it's a can of worms....

thanks in advance.

I had a Barnstormer, traded it in to a Long Half-Belt, which is a better option for me. In my mind the Barnstormer definitely needs a belt, it looks great if the jacket fits you exactly, and it makes the jacket look great even if it is a size big.

Regarding the length, bear in mind that the jacket is probably made of FQHH, meaning that it is damn stiff. If it is long, good luck wearing it e.g. driving a car. My regular length Barnstormer used give me fits, but then again it also had alpaca lining, which was warm, way too warm for driving...
 

PaulC

New in Town
Messages
18
Location
London
Thanks for all your help Gents,
I've gone for the brown FQHH Barnstormer with the mariner style half belt.Will said he's done these before and they work really well.Given the choice between the Mariner and the Barnstormer,in his opinion,there's really no contest and the Barnstormer got the nod.I've gone for the brown alpaca lining as this will be a true winter wearer..i have a Highwayman with the grant lining for cooler times of the year.
As I said in another thread,I'm the first UK based order for over a month,but they are still inundated with orders from the USA,Japan and in Europe,Germany,which is great news in these lean times.

Thanks again for your input.
 

libby

New in Town
Messages
29
Location
England
Hi paulC,
Hope you dont mind me butting in on this thread but you mentioned you already have an Aero Highwayman. I have just ordered a Highwayman from Aero and was wondering what your thoughts are on the Highwayman as a good all round utillity jacket, styling, quality of product and value for money? Was you suitably impressed?
 

PaulC

New in Town
Messages
18
Location
London
Hi Libby,
We are veering off topic,but my Highwayman,in my opinion,is great.The quality is second to none and the fit,having spoken to Will over the phone with a tape measure in my hand,was absolutely spot on.I received it in August and wore it with just a t-shirt underneath,and have managed to put a roll neck under it for autumn/winter.Depending on what you're after it's a bit more 'boxey' than the half belt for example,but for what i wanted,it exceeded expectation.It's starting to break in nicley in the arms,but can still stand up on it's own...i think it will for some time to come.There's loads of great threads and pics on this site that i perused before taking the plunge,but i would be very surprised if you weren't very happy with your purchase.I went for the additional inside pockets which add a bit of practicality to a very cool jacket.
Congratulations.
 

matei

One Too Many
Messages
1,015
Location
England
New FQHH Aero Barnstormer

Hi all,

After placing the order in February with Aero for a size 46 FQHH Barnstormer, it arrived the day before yesterday:

mime-attachment.jpg


Here it is, this time on yours truly on the way to work.

mime-attachment-1.jpg


It is still very stiff, and weighs a ton - but it looks great. I've received a load of compliments so far. In the above pick, I've got the belt looped and fastened behind the jacket.

Aero did a wonderful job with the dimensions that I sent them. It is more of an overcoat than a form-fitting fashion jacket. Because it is a double-breast design, it is meant to be wrapped around, and there is certainly enough room to wear a jumper underneath.

I can't say enough good things about the Barnstormer, it is exactly what I wanted. I'm hoping it stays cool long enough for me to wear it more and break it in!

Thanks to all who gave me advice on ordering this manly coat!
 

Cooperson

One Too Many
Messages
1,165
Location
Midlands UK
Great looking coat matei and a perfect fit on you. Leather looks a lot darker and richer in the outdoor pic. I was considering a Mariner for the winter, because I wasn't sure about a belt, but I think the stormer definitely has the edge. Thanks for showing us another great Aero.
 

eClairvaux

One of the Regulars
Messages
257
Location
Monaco di Baviera
class jacket! Fits like it should, hope you'll wear it for as long as it takes to become a family member before ordering in too many siblings from Aero.
 

1911 Man

A-List Customer
Messages
350
Location
Utah
Agreed, that is one sharp jacket. I have the same model and love it. It has been one of my single most enjoyable articles of clothing, and by far my favorite leather jacket ever (I've owned around a dozen).


It's getting too warm around here to wear mine, but we're getting a cold front this weekend, might get one or two more days use before hanging it up for the season.

The stiffness will work itself out quickly with wear.
 

Johnnynotoes

Familiar Face
Messages
87
Location
S.W. Ontario Canada
Wow...That FQ MUST be stout stuff...still able to stand on its own at that length w/o toppling! Yep that one looks great Matei! I suspect that soon there'll be a rush of Aero posts/pics from happy owners. Seems a few are finding homes lately. Digging that colour I am! Simple, pure, classic...Aero Leathers. Yessir!!
 

fraazierjo

New in Town
Messages
47
Location
california
Canadian jackets!

Johnnynotoes,

Noticed you're Canadian - how do you like the great looking Varsity jacket in my avatar. I have a around five or six of these beauties from different schools up north there. This one's from MacMaster and I'm wearing another really heavy one (in every sense of the word) from Windsor. I've got a bunch of other styles of jackets, but these hockey jock ones are my favorite to wear up here in the mountains of California. Have you ever owned one?
 

matei

One Too Many
Messages
1,015
Location
England
Many thanks for the kind words. It is my favourite article of clothing, hands-down, that I've ever had.

I wanted something like this for ages, but as you're all aware outerwear of this design and quality aren't readily available off-the-rack.

My father-in-law's pilot's coat from the late '40s/'50s is similar, but it is a wee bit too short in the arms for me. It is also very old and in a fragile state, and FQHH either!

It wasn't until I started hanging around this joint and met Paddy that I heard of Aero (not to mention the other manufacturers of quality leather outerwear). I was lucky enough to see a Barnstormer first had (Doc has a sharp one in black), and I knew that the mighty Barnstormer was for me!

If any of yis are on the fence whether to get an Aero or not... go for it, don't wait. You only live once!
 

Johnnynotoes

Familiar Face
Messages
87
Location
S.W. Ontario Canada
One only lives once...excellent rationale Matei. It's what started my quest for a Highwayman after several middling similar designs. Hmmm...Might it be used for oh, say....A PAIR OF REDWING IRON RANGERS??? * off to struggle with my rationale...*

Fraazierjo...Beauty! The Canadian hockey/campus jackets seem to be pretty popular especially with international collectors. I've had a couple over the years but none right now. My best [and rather rare] was a horsehide with a black body and red sleeves, circa mid-fifties. Minty mint! Patches were in the pockets yet to be sewn on. They didn't come patched like the makers do these days. School/jock jacs are not uncommon in the thrift stores hereabouts. Alum chaps wear 'em for a couple of years then years later it seems out they go during a house cleaning. A lot to do too, with lads fattening up apres degree perhaps! Maybe I should be buying them up and setting up an Ebay acct. Heh. Great jackets for the most part...locally made and I believe all still are. J
 

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