Test pattern Irvin from Aero

[John Lever]

Ken has made one of the first new jackets with an improved arm shape, looks good although there are no specific shots to show how the shape has changed.
http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/prod ... hp?id=1264

 

[bseal]

Respectable, but after seeing the Aces High Irvin made by our forum member, who has not been at it for the decades that Aero has, well, you know what I am thinking.

Aces!!!!

 

[Roughwear]

Why does Aero insist on calling this design of jacket a Battle of Britain Irvin? The typical BoB Irvin was the two panel design and most originals of the Aero jacket would date to 1941. I see the same old inaccurate zips are used along with cow hide with a plastic finish for the belt and collar strap. IMO this jacket is not a patch on Jon's Irvins.

 

[John Lever]

I like the collar and the sheepskin looks good.

 

[Roughwear]

Does that mean you have one on order John?

 

[John Lever]

Not at the moment. I just think that Ken might be applauded for developing/refining some designs when the company is in dire straits. It shows passion.

 

[Otter]

Only a test pattern at the moment, maybe more realistic zips will be forthcoming. The sheepskin looks even fluffier than on my Aero, still a very warm comfy jacket.

 

[flyboy]

Only a test pattern at the moment, maybe more realistic zips will be forthcoming. The sheepskin looks even fluffier than on my Aero, still a very warm comfy jacket.

Sheepskin looks more or less like the fluffy stuff on my Aero - before the hot water treatment, that is.

 

[MikeyB-17]

I see the same old inaccurate zips are used

Yeah, made from that horrible mall jacket 'brass' that Aero have insisted on using for years. Have they not got shot of that stuff yet? To be fair it does say the production jacket will be different. Point out too many inaccuracies and they'll start moaning about 'nit picking'. It is nice to see Aero taking an interest in military jackets again, though, but the game has moved on since Ken was last in charge.

 

[John Lever]

Someone likes it as it is sold. When the pattern is finished I would definitely buy one.

 

[coalman]

It looks a good jacket, to be honest we have been spoiled with Jons productions, all the 3 boxes ticked which were shape,zips and sheepskin.
When I was looking to buy a replica Irvin sadly Jons jackets were not available and it was the sheepkin that Aero use stopped me from buying one from them.
Hopefully they will look at the competition and consider changing to a more realistic skin.

 

[B-24J]

Someone likes it as it is sold. When the pattern is finished I would definitely buy one.

John,

Is the new Aero jacket using your sleeve pattern from the one you purchased back in 2009? I think they would be hard pressed to improve on that jacket!

As far as zips go, I believe having a custom zip produced like Aero's requires a rather substantial investment and a large quantity. I do not know the details of Jon's zipper purchase.

John

 

[John Lever]

Someone likes it as it is sold. When the pattern is finished I would definitely buy one.

John,

Is the new Aero jacket using your sleeve pattern from the one you purchased back in 2009? I think they would be hard pressed to improve on that jacket!

As far as zips go, I believe having a custom zip produced like Aero's requires a rather substantial investment and a large quantity. I do not know the details of Jon's zipper purchase.

John

Unfortunately that arm pattern was never quite right, but Ken has others he may use. I think Jon uses zips provided by Lewis Leathers.

 

[TOMG1401]

Why is Ken the great white hope for aero, he certainly is a decent fellow but let's face it under him Aero A-2's were not even close to proper construction and details. Go read his answer at Acme Depot to the question on why the side seams were facing the wrong way on the jackets he gave Marc to evaluate, after you stop laughing, like to hear comments, or does he get a free pass also.

 

[MikeyB-17]

I have a huge amount of time for Ken, I used to love his irreverent posts on the old forums, but he has his own views on WWII repros (e.g. the side seams, and the triangle stitching in the knits, and the single weave cuffs etc. etc.) and he'll argue black is white as to why his way is better, and I don't think any moaning from us is going to change them. I think if you buy an Aero repro, you get a superbly made jacket, but if you're looking for a spot-on reproduction of a WWII original, you'd better go elsewhere as that's not what they're about. I have moaned about those 'brass' zips ever since they introduced them (I even bought a jacket with one, from the sale page, hoping I might be able to do something about it. I couldn't.) It was pointed out that instead of moaning on jacket forums about them, I should tell Aero direct. So I did, I emailed Amanda, and very nicely tried to point out that their zips were ruining an otherwise splendid jacket. I didn't get a reply, but they were busy selling jackets, and probably didn't have time to pay much attention to my yipping up . Many, many people aren't anywhere near as bothered about these sort of details as some of us here are, and Aero are going to carry right on making them the way they want. It's nice to see Ken back at the helm, because he obviously has an interest in repro military jackets that has been conspicuous by its absence since he retired. The new Quartermasters jacket, and the fact that they're doing something about the Irvin design, are the first signs of an interest in their military repros that I can recall since 2006.