Obama's A2 ?

[Michael Farris]

There were lots of photos of the president on a surprise visit to Afghanistan last week. Most photos showed him an A2.

Here are some.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXmZBpSxhYE (2 places)

http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101203/obama-kabul-visit-101203/20101203/?hub=WinnipegHome half-way down page

http://www.google.ca/images?source=og&q=obama+Afghanistan+surprise+visit&hl=en&ned=us&tab=ni&biw=888&bih=511

I am curious if anyone can say who the maker is and whether they got the fit right. It looks pretty good to me. 40T, I'd say.

 

[Justhandguns]

Well, there are actually some huge discussion about this on vintageflightjacket.org. I think Obama's A2 is actually the current issued Cockpit USA A-2. The fit is definitely modern, not like the snug, tight fit you find on the original WW2 period A-2.

 

[kojax]

i would say maybe gibson barnes they just did 50 jackets for george bush for some kind of promotion this year

 

[Justhandguns]

i would say maybe gibson barnes they just did 50 jackets for george bush for some kind of promotion this year

Ah, true. I think it is possible as well.
But current president? Current issued? Makes more sense?

 

[Peacoat]

Welcome to the Forum, Michael.

Kinda swallows him, doesn't it?

 

[kojax]

lol the sleeves tunnle big time on him

 

[deluxestyling]

I saw him wearing it on the news and thought it's a shame he didn't get one that fits!
He has a good shape that could carry off the snug military look too...

 

[EmergencyIan]

Yeah, this particular A-2 looks terrible on him. One would think they could provide a jacket that fits him properly.


- Ian

 

[Justhandguns]

Yeah, this particular A-2 look terrible on him. One would think they could provide one that fits him properly.


- Ian

Yeah, it depends on what's their definition of "fit".

 

[pjstrass]

glad to see the responses from here...was wondering myself....hope he hasn't used taxpayer $$ for an expensive jacket...

 

[Phantomfixer]

The color of the knits make me think of an issue Saddlery A-2. Alot of conjecture on my part. Having friends and relatives who served on AF one or on presidential support missions, I can say that he might never wear the same jacket twice.

 

[HeyMoe]

hope he hasn't used taxpayer $$ for an expensive jacket...

If it was "issued" to him, it was bought with tax payer money.

If he bought it with his current pay check, he basically used tax payer money.

Either way, I wish WE could have gotten him a better fitting jacket LOL

 

[JanSolo]

Anyone noticed that this jacket has side panels? What current manufacturer makes such a strange A2?

 

[PADDY]

He'd look amazing in a WWII cut A2 like RMNZ or Goodwear.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Anyone noticed that this jacket has side panels? What current manufacturer makes such a strange A2?

I think I saw a comment (over on VLJ?) that the latest spec jackets from Cockpit have the extra side panels in larger sizes... along with gussets, inner pockets, and Indy-jacket-style hidden handwarmers.

Yes, the current jackets are pretty ugly... but that's what the Pres is gonna wear, no matter how much the likes of us would prefer to see him in a good WWII repro!

 

[nicholasb]

I feel sorry for him now. Someone has screwed him over with the bad jacket. Barack deserves the best as Paddy says. You could put Bush in anything and he'd always look like a clown but Obama could have worn a nice jacket well.

 

[Jeff M]

Refer him to Goodwear.

 

[Feraud]

The president has a healthy looking physique and could use a better fit in that jacket. Didn't they used to have "people" take care of such issues?
The last time the president wore jeans that fit and had a decent rise the media made fun of him. Something along the line of "mom jeans".
I guess you have to dress like a slob to get along nowadays.

 

[Edward]

I imagine he's wearing the standard current issue. US Presidents do all seem to go in for flight jackets when visiting troops. I suppose this ties in with a sense of solidarity with the military, plus their role as CiC - not something you would, afaik, see a British PM doing, but I don't think they're a comparable post, which is likely a big reason for it. I seem to remember Bush wearing a few different flight jackets, though in my head I associate him more with the nylon type. Does it vary depending which branch of the services they are visiting? Bush, of course, also had an association with some branch of other of the military aside from being CiC as President, so I did wonder whether his choice of jacket reflected that at all.

 

[Lonny]

Its a shame the fit is off, but it looks like an okay jacket I guess. I really like that patch.