A-2 Flight Jackets

u812

u812

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Mar 15, 2002
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Anyone else have one.A friend of mine has a Cooper he was issued back in the early 90s.He wears it all the time and it still looks great.I had been wanting one for years but never could find one in my size.Well found a Cooper 56L on the bay the other day and pulled the trigger.Hope the 56L fits right.I measured 54 around my chest and I am 6'1''.Most I have ever spent on a jacket so I hope it is not a let down.It was pre owned and the seller said a 9 out of 10 priced at 299.00.
 
u812 said:
Anyone else have one.
Click to expand...

I've had mine for about 20 years. It's made in the USA by Spiekaw & Sons & I bought it through Brigade Quartermasters. I live in south Florida so I don't get many chances to wear it, but I did wear it last night. The only drawback I've found is the lack of slash pockets to warm your hands.
 
That is a drawback.The leather jacket I have now has the warmer pockets,I hardly ever find myself using them on it.I think it is because of the way they are positioned on that jacket.
The current issue A-2s that Cockpit USA are making has inside pockets and hand warmer pockets.I checked there last week and there was going to be a 6 week wait on my size.The price from them was over 400.00.
 
I have a US Wings Goatskin A-2 2000. It's exactly like the USAF-issue A-2 except it has side-entry hand warmer pockets. I've had it for about six years and it's been a great jacket.
http://www.uswings.com
USWA22Kfront_DETAIL.jpg
 
NorCalMtn2 said:
I have a US Wings Goatskin A-2 2000. It's exactly like the USAF-issue A-2 except it has side-entry hand warmer pockets. I've had it for about six years and it's been a great jacket.
http://www.uswings.com
USWA22Kfront_DETAIL.jpg
Click to expand...

I really like the US Wings.They had a 3XL long listed but when I called they checked and said they were out.
 
I have 3, one an Orvis copy that's nice, but not vey authentic, and 2 Willis and Geiger A-2's. I think they are better than the Areo and Coopers, and yet they're not as good as the Eastman's. I got the second one here in SWA thru eBay because I hate not having one.

Even better I also have an A-1 that I bought back in '87. Very few around and much nicer. Soft collar and buttons.

To my mind flight jackets must not have side entry pockets. No military man puts his hands in his pockets, that's what gloves are for.
 
eisman said:
To my mind flight jackets must not have side entry pockets. No military man puts his hands in his pockets, that's what gloves are for.
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That's what they told us in Basic. :)

Don't let me see you with your hands in your pockets or walking along with a cigarette in your hand.
 
I'm not in the military and living in Florida I don't even own a pair of gloves, so slash pockets are appreciated.
 
eisman said:

To my mind flight jackets must not have side entry pockets. No military man puts his hands in his pockets, that's what gloves are for.
Click to expand...

That's the first thing that came to my mind, also :)

That said, mine sort-of-copy has side entry pockets, but I keep my hands out of 'em.

I wear it all the time. It's about 30 years old (got it at Wilson's Leather in a mall), and I often get compliments on it.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
That's what they told us in Basic. :)

Don't let me see you with your hands in your pockets or walking along with a cigarette in your hand.
Click to expand...

And, keep your hands off of the females!

We had two female squadrons in our area when I went to BMT ('78)
 
From what I have been reading the hard core A-2 collectors will not touch any with the slash pockets but the current issue jackets do have them.
 
I've got a G-1 I got surplus over 20 years ago. The cuffs and waistband are shot. While I was looking for a place to have it repaired I found a second hand Scully B-2 on the 'net for $99! I've been out of the military for over 40 years and I have no qualms about putting my hands in my pockets.
 
If you are still looking to have the cuffs and waistband repaired I saw that Cockpit USA offers replacing of cuffs for 60.00 and waistband for 60.00.
 
eisman said:
I have 3, one an Orvis copy that's nice, but not vey authentic, and 2 Willis and Geiger A-2's. I think they are better than the Areo and Coopers, and yet they're not as good as the Eastman's. I got the second one here in SWA thru eBay because I hate not having one.

Even better I also have an A-1 that I bought back in '87. Very few around and much nicer. Soft collar and buttons.

To my mind flight jackets must not have side entry pockets. No military man puts his hands in his pockets, that's what gloves are for.
Click to expand...

I really like the look of the Eastmans, but I just can't justify $600 for a flight jacket, even if it uses original patterns and the right tags. I believe they are selling a repro of the A-1 now too.

I'm still wearing my issue Cooper A-2. I got it in 1995, shortly after they started issuing them again. They weren't issued with slash pockets, but on one deployment I took three A-3 kitbags full of A-2s to Pop's Leather in Turkey to have mods done: slash pockets, silk liners, blood chits, pen pockets, etc. I guess you could call them "theater mods" and crewdogs have been doing it for years to their gear. Not a great shot, but here it is:

A-2.jpg


The hands in the pocket thing has always been loosely enforced by crews on the flightline, for better or worse. Slash pockets are one of the first mods guys got to their jackets. The Air Force caught on and now they issue them that way.
 
Relayer said:
And, keep your hands off of the females!

We had two female squadrons in our area when I went to BMT ('78)
Click to expand...

1965 we were housed in former WAF barracks for Basic, two bunk beds in each room instead of open-bay. We shared a mess hall with the half of a WAF squadron that remained, and some of us ended up on the serving line for the pretty little things. :)
 
u812 said:
If you are still looking to have the cuffs and waistband repaired I saw that Cockpit USA offers replacing of cuffs for 60.00 and waistband for 60.00.
Click to expand...

That's what made me buy the B-2. I only paid $120 for the jacket, new! I've got a line on a dry cleaner in Montana that used to do cuffs and waistbands for a lot less. Hopefully they're still in business.
 
my wife has a A-2 but likes her CWU-45/P better for some reason... I scored A 100% new NOMEX CWU at an surplus store for $7.00 the guy selling it didn't know what he had...sucker the price online for the knock offs is $200-$400
 
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u812 said:
Anyone else have one.A friend of mine has a Cooper he was issued back in the early 90s.He wears it all the time and it still looks great.I had been wanting one for years but never could find one in my size.Well found a Cooper 56L on the bay the other day and pulled the trigger.Hope the 56L fits right.I measured 54 around my chest and I am 6'1''.Most I have ever spent on a jacket so I hope it is not a let down.It was pre owned and the seller said a 9 out of 10 priced at 299.00.
Click to expand...

Did you get it yet? It may end up being a little bit long, but hopefully not.

I still have my issue G-1 and the leather in these jackets is incredible. I fully expect to be passing it down to my nephew some day.
 
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