Inside Cockpit USA

[B-Man2]

@B-Man2 and @Pa12 -- do your jackets have wool knits (they look like it)? Mine are some sort of wool-cotton blend with elastic that hasn't given up the ghost, but is close.

Definitely wool but just noticed that the original waist knits and the original cuff knits look like a different weave pattern … huh!

 

[Pa12]

I think the wool knits was an upgrade that came with the horse hide jackets

 

[Chandler]

I think the wool knits was an upgrade that came with the horse hide jackets

Well, mine's HH but doesn't have the wool knits.

 

[Pa12]

I’ve told the story several times, but here we go again. In my single days , my first A2 Avirex I used to wear it riding my Harley. One Friday night I stopped by a bar. I left with a girl who wanted a ride on the bike. I let her wear my jacket and I road her home. Stayed the night and left the next morning but forgot the jacket. Never saw the girl or the jacket again. Somewhere there’s a 75 year old woman who occasionally thinks about that guy she met on a Harley, every time she opens her closet and sees an Avirex A2 !!

My goodness. Pre marital sex. Only a hoodllum in a leather jacket.

 

[Pa12]

Well, mine's HH but doesn't have the wool knits.

Early example maybe?

 

[Chandler]

Early example maybe?

Isn't yours older than mine? And Burt's is newer, I believe. Avirex was weird.

Oh -- yours is cowhide, missed that!

 

[B-Man2]

My goodness. Pre marital sex. Only a hoodllum in a leather jacket.

The Harley was as good as a puppy for being a chick magnet

 

[B-Man2]

My goodness. Pre marital sex. Only a hoodllum in a leather jacket.

Even the “Goody Two Shoes” ones wanted to be with a “Bad Boy” one time .

 

[Pa12]

Isn't yours older than mine? And Burt's is newer, I believe. Avirex was weird.

Oh -- yours is cowhide, missed that!

But mine is cow hide. Significantly cheaper than the horse hide version

 

[Pa12]

Even the “Goody Two Shoes” ones wanted to be with a “Bad Boy” one time .

 

[Pa12]

The Harley was as good as a puppy for being a chick magnet

Look how things have changed. Sad.

 

[Chandler]

More finds...

It's a shame it never really developed any true patina.

 

[Pa12]

More finds...

It's a shame it never really developed any true patina.

Did you wear it much? I wore the shit out of my cow version and it has tons of patina

 

[Pa12]

Did the guys across the pond indulge in the Avirex experience? I seem to recall them having a store in France.

 

[Chandler]

Did you wear it much? I wore the shit out of my cow version and it has tons of patina

Oh yeah. It has terrific grain, but the surface of the hide never really showed much wear.

 

[B-Man2]

Who said Avirex’s didn’t hold their value ??

A2 FLIGHT JACKET PILOT GRIM REAPER BLOOD CHIT 48 NAKED LEATHER BOMBER SQUADRON | eBay

MULTI-LAYER LEATHER CHIT. ALL OF THE PATCHES AND CHITS ARE HAND CUT/MADE MULTI-LAYER LEATHER, COPIED FROM ORIGINALS. IT IS NOT A SPANKING NEW MALL JACKET. THE LEATHER IS VERY NICE. IF YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR AN AFFORDABLE ACCURATE REPRO TYPE CBI JACKET, THIS COULD BE FOR YOU.

www.ebay.com

 

[Pa12]

Do you remember how much yours was new and when? I was thinking my first one in 85 was around 200 and the one in 88 was 300, but the memory has faded.

 

[Pa12]

Oh yeah. It has terrific grain, but the surface of the hide never really showed much wear.

Mine has a lot of wear on all the edges and high spots.

 

[Pa12]

Mine has a lot of wear on all the edges and high spots.

But the noisiest jacket I’ve ever seen. Creaking and squeaking like an old ship. I don’t know if that’s a cowhide thing or something from the tanning process. Sounds like an old motorcycle jacket.

 

[Chandler]

But the noisiest jacket I’ve ever seen. Creaking and squeaking like an old ship. I don’t know if that’s a cowhide thing or something from the tanning process. Sounds like an old motorcycle jacket.

Well, at least mine's quiet.