Well, for one thing the price. Next, they don't say anything about the leather itself....thickness, quality etc. And a free pair of ' Genuine Pilots Wings ' adds up to junk!!
You raise a valid point about over priced jackets that aren't good for anything other then status symbols. I'm sure everyone here has bought something based on brand name alone and found that it came up short when compared to the money it cost to buy.
I was actually taken back with how nice the horsehide is... supple, developing VERY nice grain, and right at the upper limits of thickness for an A-2. The pattern / cut is true to various period wartime contracts. The epaulets ride squarely over the shoulders, not rolled-over towards the front like many of the cheap A-2's out there, and also sports proper pocket spacing, as well as having some scallop to the pocket flaps. The shell's color is a true, dark seal brown, with contrasting khaki / straw-colored thread. The only thing 'off', is the sleeves being around 1" too long, but that will be easily taken care of when I get the knits replaced in the future. 
I'm constantly searching for reasonably-priced A-2's, both new and previously-owned. Once in a great while, I will come across one which checks all of the boxes in hide, pattern / cut, and the small details such as pocket / epaulet placement, collar shape, forearm taper, etc.. But those are like hen's teeth to find..... I also like the scallop to the pocket flaps, and the cut of the collar. This jacket 'checked most of my boxes', and was a steal for the little over $100.00 USD paid (click to enlarge):
Sloan (with all due respect) is comparing what is clearly a modern-fit A-2, probably following current USAF regs, versus a WW2 reproduction. It's not a fair comparison at all. I've posted a buttload of recently-taken photos of USAF personnel wearing A-2 jackets, ones issued from stores, but I suspect only about one or two people here have actually looked at those photos. If they did they're realize two important things: (1) modern military spec A-2 jackets are longer in the sleeves and torso and more generous in the torso to fit modern men; (2) modern men, even fit servicemen, are simply larger in all respects than men in the 1940s.TXFlyGuy said:
ha ha ha, well said!TXFlyGuy said:
Your eyes are far better than mine...please tell us what is wrong with this A-2 (aside from the patches). I'll wager that if the price was $525, some opinions may change a bit.
I've been wearing / owning A-2's for around 30 years, and I find ones like pictured above 'soulless' renditions of the originals, lacking in the details which strike a chord with me when thinking of an A-2 flight jacket...
Most folks take VERY good care of them when purchased new, and the ones I received were indeed in new condition. Others, like the 20+ year old American Eagle Leather A-2 posted above, has most all of the bells & whistles (details) of an original, plus already nicely grained, and broken-in goatskin. I purchased it at a price which allows me to entirely replace the lining and knits, and end-up with a pretty much period-correct A-2 for a sweet price. Just shows that there are several ways to approach the purchase. I shy away from second-hand purchasing, because I prefer dealing with a seller that can be held accountable more than an individual selling a second-hand item. And my knowledge of the product category is too limited to be confident I'm looking for the right things.LOL!.. Actually, I quite enjoy purchasing 'used-2nd-hand' jackets... especially $15-1700.00 GW's for $600.00 and under.
There's plenty of posts dating back close to 10 years here showing brand-new Aero's, and other 'expensive' new jackets I own / owned, so I'm in no 'need' to 'resort' to purchasing 'used, 2nd hand' jackets..
