Jake431
Member
My soul is ready! I've owned a RMNZ Dubow A-2, Aero 1940 pattern A-2, ELC Star A-2, tried on myriad other A-2s, as well as helped John Chapman QC his earliest jackets (when they were just being made out of cowhide and he was testing them/kicking the tires on the idea of opening GW), so I've had many, many jackets, but been more or less completely out of the flight jacket game for a decade at this point. Originally, I wanted a Dubow, but the pocket placement did me no favors. I really like the collar shape of the Star, and enjoyed my Aero, but none was ever right. I think what I've learned is this - I need to embrace I'm never going to be a tucked in shirt person, so I need a longer, more modern body (which I realize is a deviation from originals, but I'm not buying originals, and I'm not a wartime pilot, so, I'm fine with this), and I like the higher stance of a stand collar (looks better on my neck), with a relatively trim fit and square shoulders. I just want something I can fit over a trim sweatshirt. I live in the Bay Area and don't need a winter jacket. All that said, I did recently try on a Real McCoys Japan A-2 (model 220, which from what I glean is an updated pattern i.e. longer torso, I think), and that was pretty much perfect, except for price, and the fact that it isn't a reproduction of anything in particular, though I do think it's effectively a Rough Wear.
