Aerial Star A2 - Looks promising, I ordered one!

[269sqnhudson]

Hi Guys, Anyone heard of Aerial Star? Their A2 looks really pretty decent so I took the plunge and ordered one yesterday Refreshingly the site has really good pics with good close-ups of the steerhide. Also so far the customer service has been very very good.

Thoughts? Anyone else seen one?
http://aerialstar.com/catalogpage1.htm

 

[philip.ed]

If you don't mind me asking, how much did it come to in total (including shipping) to the UK?
Their free-returns policy is enticing...

 

[269sqnhudson]

It will be c. £340 plus postage will $50-$70.

You don't pay until you receive the jacket and like it though which is pretty good in this day and age!
If I like it I'm getting a second

 

[havocpaul]

Looks well made but no details about the zip used, the side pocketed jacket has a standard YKK by the looks of it, hopefully they sourced a repro Talon or similar for the A-2 for accuracy.

 

[Roughwear]

It looks like a well made A2. The steer hide seems to have character. Their payment policy is certainly imaginative and hopefully will serve them well and their customers. I look forward to a review of the jacket when it arrives.

 

[269sqnhudson]

Looks well made but no details about the zip used, the side pocketed jacket has a standard YKK by the looks of it, hopefully they sourced a repro Talon or similar for the A-2 for accuracy.

The zips are RiRi (Swiss). Nice high-end zips but obviously not WWII accurate. I think given the labels and the blurb on the site they are going for the WWII private-purchase A2 look overall.

I'm definitely looking forward to doing a review.

 

[269sqnhudson]

I got a zip pic from them and a pic of the new pocket shape.

 

[a2jacketpatches]

Looks well made but no details about the zip used, the side pocketed jacket has a standard YKK by the looks of it, hopefully they sourced a repro Talon or similar for the A-2 for accuracy.

I spoke with the owner Chris when he first introduced his product as he called me for a little advice. My knowledge of contract A2 details pales in comparison to most guys here, but I guess he liked my approach to making patches. Much in the same way I use the same methods and materials as real theater made patches but pay little attention to making perfect copies, he does the same in producing a civilian model of the A-2 Flight Jacket. He's not out to compete with the reproducers of specific contracts or even close to a military issue jacket, but more toward a quality A-2 style available to the general public.

Just thought this needed posting before anyone else assumes accuracy is his focus. He's a very nice guy so I'm sure he would accommodate anyone sourcing their own hardware.

 

[havocpaul]

I was mistaken when I thought it was a YKK as couldn't magnify the photo, (I have a probably over-the-top adversion to YKK, think its all those ebay listings that say "original vintage WW2 YKK zip.."!!)..RiRi is a good choice and as a civilian type A-2 it looks great and a good price that will surely gain good sales and positive reviews. And congratulations to him for the excellent website, look forward to your review when it arrives.

 

[CBI]

I had many talks with Chris and placed the very first order for one of his jackets. I did the A-2 with slash pockets as I thought it would make a nice civi jacket. The jacket was/is very well made, expert craftsmanship and the fit was superb!!!! Unfortunately, the jacket arrived pretty heavily damaged (I think it had partially come out of the box during shipping and the post office re-packed it) so I returned it. Chris was great about it. He is trying to create a mid-priced jacket with the best materials he can. He said he has a good pattern maker which he does! His buy on approval plan in very generous and he is really gung-ho to make an affordable line of jackets.

 

[MikeyB-17]

They look really good-for those not too bothered about micro-accuracy I'd think they'd be great. Obviously a high quality item, ELC used to say Riri zips are the best in the World-I had some on my old Martin Gould D-1 and they were things of beauty. If they can get into the right market I reckon they'll do well-would there be import duty on top of the postage cost?

 

[havocpaul]

The point you made about import duty is an interesting one. If they are sending them out before any payment then they can be marked as gift or sample so may avoid duties, however, I have noticed since eBay embarked on the ridiculous new international postage system in hand with Pitney Bowes where it claims all charges are included (they're not, you still get caught out if customs are checking) that HMRC are more vigilant with items coming from the USA, I had charges on two jackets recently, one that even though was under $100 the VAT was added plus Parcel Force's cut.

 

[MikeyB-17]

I am done with ordering anything from the US. A set of Sean's dice wound up costing me over £35 after Customs and Parcelforce had had their pound of flesh. No fault of Sean 's, and I love the dice, but enough is enough.

 

[a2jacketpatches]

WOW! Thought I marked those at 6 bucks or something.

 

[dmar836]

Yeah, shipping from this side is on the rise as well. We are not yet beaten up with customs... yet.
I think this is what the whiners(sorry to sound harsh) are looking for. Cuts only in the details that they themselves don't care about. No longer will they have to be "screwed by the high end makers or go without" as they have said. Yet, I somehow think they won't buy these either. Hmm.
I wish this guy luck on this venture. Pretty cool!
As usual, JMO,
Dave

 

[269sqnhudson]

Yeah, shipping from this side is on the rise as well. We are not yet beaten up with customs... yet.
I think this is what the whiners(sorry to sound harsh) are looking for. Cuts only in the details that they themselves don't care about. No longer will they have to be "screwed by the high end makers or go without" as they have said. Yet, I somehow think they won't buy these either. Hmm.
I wish this guy luck on this venture. Pretty cool!
As usual, JMO,
Dave

Not sure what that means but hey ho. I've had many many repros and just think the aerial star looks good, nothing more to it than that!

 

[dmar836]

Sorry. A while back there was a lot of unrest verbalized about the lack of affordable A-2s. This another option for those not concerned with perfection r/t parts, etc. Glad to see it here!
Dave

 

[Jason]

Very generous terms for customers! With a few minor adjustments to the patterns, I think they'll do very well in the mid-tier A-2 market.
The only criticisms I have are that - going on the pictures of the home page alone - the two-way entry pockets were way too big (possibly a practical necessity for such an arrangement, but it still looks strange having the top of the pocket almost in line with your armpits), and that the collar looks a bit too big on all models. Of course, those photos could be of pre-production versions, and the jackets being sent out to customers now might have these minor issues attended to?

I wish them well. We're getting spoilt for choice these days!

 

[Silver Surfer]

the pix show a jacket that actually looks a bit like a monarch a-2. this outfit is not to far away from me. when i get some time, i just may go by there for a look-see.

 

[CBI]

I think Chris is open to suggestions to a degree. I urged him to decide on something and stick with it vs. dealing with a zillion "slight" change requests.