A2 for graduation

[Ken at Aero Leather]

isn't the AVI actually made in Pakistan?

That'll be why they are trying to keep it secret..................so it's not that cheap after all

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fac...0d22-4c31-9a1a-4105ff67e65b&priceBeautifyAB=0

This is retail..........a week spent "out there" teaching the finer detailling and a few bits of better trim and these could be landed in The UK for under £100 taxes paid.
Plenty other similar sources too

 

[Smithy]

Haha Smithy, yes I know.
Smithy, a guy on the other lounge just posted measurement for a 46, he is 6.2 and 87 kg.
Chest: 58cm
Back shoulders: 48cm
Back length: 69cm
Sleeves: 69cm

I'm 6'2'' and 83-85kg so that's really useful, thank you.

 

[navairfan]

Hi - I suggest you look into the A-2's produced by What Price Glory. I have one, and it's the best $150 I've ever spent. The goatskin is luxurious, and the twill lining is almost as easy to slip on and off as my nylon-lined G-1's. I think they make the best A-2 for the money. Here's the link: http://onlinemilitaria.net/products/5467-US-A-2-Leather-Flight-Jacket/

 

[Smithy]

Hi - I suggest you look into the A-2's produced by What Price Glory. I have one, and it's the best $150 I've ever spent. The goatskin if luxurious, and the twill lining is almost as easy to slip on and off as my nylon-lines G-1's. I thin they make the best A-2 for the money. Here's the link: http://onlinemilitaria.net/products/5467-US-A-2-Leather-Flight-Jacket/

I had one of the very first WPG A-2s made and it was my first A-2 which I bought purely to see if I could actually live with an A-2 and if the jacket would work of me. That first one was exceptionally well made (to the point of being ridiculously expertly put together) and very good value. Even though I'd only bought it as a test A-2 jacket to see if I could live with the pattern before splashing out on a better repro I was so impressed with the quality that I brought a second one the next size up as I thought I could use a slightly bigger one to layer under and knock around in but this second one was very, very shabby quality-wise, a million miles from the quality of my first A-2 from them. That second one was pants, the collar was wonky, the stitching atrocious, the finishing under the pocket flaps was shit and generally the jacket was a lemon.

There's also one flaw with the WPG A-2 well made or not, and it's the armholes which are slightly too low so the jacket suffers from the jacket shooting up your body when you lift your arms up to reach for something.

Personally I think you're better off paying more and getting a good quality secondhand jacket from one of the big makers.

EDIT:

I just dragged out that first WPG A-2 that I got to have a look at for the first time in yonks and I'm once again flabbergasted how nicely made, stitched and put together it is. Maybe to hell with the armholes and perhaps I should just wear the bloody thing, and if I'm honest those armholes aren't mall A-2 jacket low by any means...

 

[navairfan]

I had one of the very first WPG A-2s made and it was my first A-2 which I bought purely to see if I could actually live with an A-2 and if the jacket would work of me. That first one was exceptionally well made (to the point of being ridiculously expertly put together) and very good value. Even though I'd only bought it as a test A-2 jacket to see if I could live with the pattern before splashing out on a better repro I was so impressed with the quality that I brought a second one the next size up as I thought I could use a slightly bigger one to layer under and knock around in but this second one was very, very shabby quality-wise, a million miles from the quality of my first A-2 from them. That second one was pants, the collar was wonky, the stitching atrocious, the finishing under the pocket flaps was shit and generally the jacket was a lemon.

There's also one flaw with the WPG A-2 well made or not, and it's the armholes which are slightly too low so the jacket suffers from the jacket shooting up your body when you lift your arms up to reach for something.

Personally I think you're better off paying more and getting a good quality secondhand jacket from one of the big makers.

EDIT:

I just dragged out that first WPG A-2 that I got to have a look at for the first time in yonks and I'm once again flabbergasted how nicely made, stitched and put together it is. Maybe to hell with the armholes and perhaps I should just wear the bloody thing, and if I'm honest those armholes aren't mall A-2 jacket low by any means...

Thanks for your input on WPG. I'm by no means an expert, but I was extremely pleased with mine. The stitching and workmanship all look great to my eye, and the WPG jacket fits me much better than the orange-tag, early-'80's Cooper A-2 I have. Perhaps I was lucky and got one of the early ones.

 

[Smithy]

Thanks for your input on WPG. I'm by no means an expert, but I was extremely pleased with mine. The stitching and workmanship all look great to my eye, and the WPG jacket fits me much better than the orange-tag, early-'80's Cooper A-2 I have. Perhaps I was lucky and got one of the early ones.

I have no evidence but it appears the very early ones were exceptional quality. The stitching and finishing on my first one is really not far off being on par with the big makers - which is the reason why I was stunned when I got it. Saying that the knits are too thick and long, on the cuff they're stitched too tight to the jacket which means they tend to ride up the sleeves and the epaulettes are too far forward. But the overall pattern of the jacket is good, it's a trim pattern in the body.

Overall for a $150 it's a steal (if you can get one of the very first jackets). If you change the knits you'll actually end up with a very passable jacket for the price (says he who has dragged his one out again and is wearing it and being slightly impressed all over again).