Aero's new "Indiana" jacket in FQHH

[Fanch]

It appears that Aero just added an "Indiana" (Indy/Indiana Jones ) jacket to their current line up. In their description, Aero states "new offering from Aero is the vintage jacket that could well have provided the inspiration for the film jacket, this is what such a jacket really would have looked like in the 1930s, in that fictional world of course. In reality we’ve taken the spirit of the film jacket, toughened it up considerably and given it a 1930s makeover by building our version in heavy Front Quarter Horsehide, the first choice of hide for an Adventurer’s jacket back then and a leather that really would stand up to being dragged behind a truck."

Much has been said from the "purists" regarding this jacket, whose position seems to rival the A-2 purists on this and other forums. However, I think that a lambskin jacket would have been in tatters within a week of one of Indy's adventures. A goatskin would have endured much better than lamb. A FQHH might have fared better than the goat. Although I did not recall the lining, I would imagine that the "tough as nails" cotton drill would have lined Indy's FQHH jacket.

I have a Gibson and Barnes Indy jacket that G&B calls their Expedition jacket in brown goatskin that seems to be an accurate iteration of the Indy jacket, although I am by no means a purist on any jacket that I own. I am not fond of the Indy zipper zipper that to me as a right handed guy is on the wrong side and somewhat awkward for me to use. My Indy jacket is a 44 long, which is what I require for my long arms. I found this jacket on the rack at B&B when I was in San Diego a couple of years ago, and it is one of my favorite cool weather jackets. It is a fantastic "knockaround" jacket.

 

[schitzo]

hey, i like the look of this new aero but for me I can't help thinking that jackets this length are better suited to goatskin - if you can find a nice one. Your G&B looks just the ticket.

With FQHH in this length I think it's likely to be a bit heavy and uncomfortable. I'd also imagine movement is not as free as with the goat which probably has better drape too. For me FQHH is my favourite but it should be on short jackets

 

[schitzo]

JR how does the G&B goatskin compare to your aero bronco? I have been considering getting a longer aero in goat and have asked them for samples but looking at this expedition of yours has got me thinking..

 

[Fanch]

JR how does the G&B goatskin compare to your aero bronco? I have been considering getting a longer aero in goat and have asked them for samples but looking at this expedition of yours has got me thinking..

Schitzo, I think that you are comparing apples and oranges here. The fit between my G&B goatskin Expedition (Indy) and Aero Bronco goatskin jackets seems dramatically different. The historical A-2 seems to fit more like a shirt, whereas the G&B jackets in general fit more like ... well, more like a jacket. My G&B Expedition goat is not as thick as that of my Aero Bronco, which leather seems to be thicker and stiffer. I think that the Aero goat is veg tanned, whereas I recall that the B&B goat is chrome tanned, and suspect this accounts for much of the difference. For whatever reason, primarily comfort, I seem to grab the G&B Expedition over many of my other jackets. The only thing that I really dislike about the Expedition jacket is the darn zipper!

 

[schitzo]

Schitzo, I think that you are comparing apples and oranges here.!

No no i was only after info on the aero goatskin vs G&Bs. Obviously those 2 jackets are from completely different species'. Given that you have an example of each and that i won't be able to try on either before I buy, I'd say you are pretty well placed to tell me if you think the aero goat is worth forking out the extra $ for? i gather G&B jackets are a bit cheaper, though when I went to have a look just now their website was down.

Thanks
Schitz

 

[Fanch]

No no i was only after info on the aero goatskin vs G&Bs. Obviously those 2 jackets are from completely different species'. Given that you have an example of each and that i won't be able to try on either before I buy, I'd say you are pretty well placed to tell me if you think the aero goat is worth forking out the extra $ for? i gather G&B jackets are a bit cheaper, though when I went to have a look just now their website was down.

Thanks
Schitz

Schitz, I am not really sure that I can answer your question. I have an Aero Highwayman that I bought a couple of years ago that is, I think, seal brown goatskin that is more supple and pliable than the russet goatskin on my Aero Bronco, although both are about the same thickness, and both Aero jackets' goatskin are thicker than any of my G&B (3) and Cooper (2) jackets. I am not sure what tanning process is used by Aero for their goatskin but can tell you that the G&B jackets that I own are chrome tanned. I recall the G&B Expedition jackets costing about $530 USD. If you add shipping and import duty to the UK, your cost will exceed mine by quite a bit.

So, if I were you, I might take a close look at the Aero rendition of what they call the "Indiana" jacket and see if they might agree to build one for you with their goatskin and specify that you want them to cherry pick you a flexible, pliable hide that is not stiff. To me, the perfect Indy jacket would be the goatskin on my Highwayman with brown cotton drill lining. Now that would be a jacket to own! BTW I measured my 44 Tall G&B Expedition at 27" back length and 26" sleeves. The Expedition is really not particularly longer than other jackets that own (back length on my size 44 Highwayman that I just got last week is 26.25"). So, Schitz, I hope this helps. If nothing else, it creates interesting discussion!

 

[Seb Lucas]

Nice jacket. I always thought that if Indy were real in 1936, he'd be wearing a capeskin A1, given the amount of warm locations he visits. I own a goat G&B which is lovely, but it always reminds me of a 1980's A2 without knits, rather than a period jacket. By the way the Indy jacket in the last movie (that's the photo above) was a heavy cowhide made by Tony Nowak.

 

[TomS]

Great Jacket! Aero makes a nice product for sure.

 

[Jaguar66]

Here are the pics

 

[Jaguar66]

A few more

 

[Seb Lucas]

Hmmm. Doesn't really work for me; it's boxy and stiff looking and the pattern is pretty bland. Maybe we need to see one nice and broken in. Aero's half-belt is a heck of a lot prettier IMO.

 

[ButteMT61]

Hmmm. Doesn't really work for me; it's boxy and stiff looking and the pattern is pretty bland. Maybe we need to see one nice and broken in. Aero's half-belt is a heck of a lot prettier IMO.

I'm kinda with you in this one Seb. It doesn't get to me like others, but of course a broken in sample could change that quickly. With the new Pioneer, I've got my mind elsewhere

 

[Edward]

Hmmm. Doesn't really work for me; it's boxy and stiff looking and the pattern is pretty bland. Maybe we need to see one nice and broken in. Aero's half-belt is a heck of a lot prettier IMO.

It is a very simple design - which, of course, is true to the original. It'll be interesting to see how it ages - I think that the very simplicity of the design will actually let it be an incredible canvas or the quality of the hide itself to shine through. It'll be interesting to see how the hardcore Indy Cosplay set react to it. My prediction would be they'll dislike the drape - inevitably, a FQHH won't drape the same as the very thin lambskin with which the on-screen jackets were made. Aero's steer as on my Highwayman (not the hardcore, heavy stuff) would be a good mimic for the KOTCS cowhide, I think. As an Indy jacket wasn't my primary jacket of choice but I still wanted one, my Goat Wested is fine for me. I I wanted to spend the big bucks, though, I'd love to try one of Aero's in their seal goat.

 

[Fanch]

It is a very simple design - which, of course, is true to the original. It'll be interesting to see how it ages - I think that the very simplicity of the design will actually let it be an incredible canvas or the quality of the hide itself to shine through. It'll be interesting to see how the hardcore Indy Cosplay set react to it. My prediction would be they'll dislike the drape - inevitably, a FQHH won't drape the same as the very thin lambskin with which the on-screen jackets were made. Aero's steer as on my Highwayman (not the hardcore, heavy stuff) would be a good mimic for the KOTCS cowhide, I think. As an Indy jacket wasn't my primary jacket of choice but I still wanted one, my Goat Wested is fine for me. I I wanted to spend the big bucks, though, I'd love to try one of Aero's in their seal goat.

I agree with what Edward has to say, particularly regarding the hardcore Indy crowd that will dislike Aero's rendition of the Indy jacket that I think is really neat. Perhaps the hardcore Indy crowd are similar to the hardcore A-2 crowd. My position is that I like well designed jackets that are functional and comfortable to wear, whether an A-2 or Indy jacket. I will say that it is nice to have the original Indy designed left hand zipper only if one is left handed and find it somewhat awkward to use; so if I were to order one of these jackets, I would definitely order one with the right handed zipper.

 

[ButteMT61]

Aero are smart to deviate. There's already a bunch of Indy jacket makers essentially all doing the same thing. I tried and didn't like it. Aero might indeed be smart to go this route.

 

[Edward]

Aero are smart to deviate. There's already a bunch of Indy jacket makers essentially all doing the same thing. I tried and didn't like it. Aero might indeed be smart to go this route.

Aero's business model, which revolves around producing jackets to order rather than stock, means that they can very easily keep a design on the books that might not sell in big enough numbers to justify it if they were producing stock to sell. This does mean that unlike the way, say, Wested operates for the most part, they can afford to offer an Indy jacket that doesn't sell in big numbers, as long as they have someone on staff who can produce it. It's something i can certainly see a market for among folks in this part who might admire the Indy style but have been disappointed with the durability / abusability of the screen accurate offerings elsewhere. Or who maybe want something more suited to the Autumn / Winter. I bought a second hand Wested Raiders because while I wanted an Indy jacket, I also wanted something cheap to save the money towards other things from Aero. I also wanted a light jacket for Summer use - Wested's goat fits the bill perfectly. If I'd wanted a heavier, Autumn jacket and wanted an Indy design above all else, Aero would have been my go to. I can certainly see a niche market for this, which Aero are well positioned to service. Money no bject, I'd love to see one of these in the 'new' hide Aero have advertised for the 40s halfbelt model.

 

[ButteMT61]

...Money no bject, I'd love to see one of these in the 'new' hide Aero have advertised for the 40s halfbelt model.

THAT might make it more appealing to me as well. But the Pioneer is different enough to spark my interest. Having had two "Indy" model jackets, I realized that they bored me. Just nothing there as far as the style went (for me) and I don't carry a whip or wear a fedora, so they went lol

 

[Edward]

THAT might make it more appealing to me as well. But the Pioneer is different enough to spark my interest. Having had two "Indy" model jackets, I realized that they bored me. Just nothing there as far as the style went (for me) and I don't carry a whip or wear a fedora, so they went lol

Heh. It was one of those things (like a Perfecto style) for me that might not be my highest priority, but I still felt the need to own.... The Wested does what I need of it, though - on to other things for Aero. I desperate want a Pioneer in black. It's a great timing for me, actually.... I love my Thirties halfbelt in brown FQHH. I have long wanted one in black (with a few slight modifications), but I was in two minds recently as to whether I could justify two of the same thing with only minor differences... The Pioneer is ideal if I get it in black fqhh (shame the new hide doesn't come in black; I also considered goat if it had come black too, but Amanda told me that can only get it in seal and russet). Something diferent than the Thirties, but not too similar to the Highwayman either. Funny thing, that - I had a cheapish but reasonable jacket in a Hgihwayman style years ago. Sold it on eBay when it really needed relining and that would have been too expensive as against the value of the jacket (I think it was new at seventy quid; relining would have been at least thirty to forty at the time). Didn't think I'd want another as I tend to prefer a more fitted leather. So, so glad I took a punt on the steer/cow apprentice made one I picked up a couple of months ago, though. I was unsure about the looser fit at first, but it has become a real favourite. Ideal for the rockabilly thing... actually, it has drawn a lot of admiration on that circuit. Always a bonus to have something different (and easier to justify more jackets then.... ).

 

[ButteMT61]

Heh. It was one of those things (like a Perfecto style) for me that might not be my highest priority, but I still felt the need to own.... The Wested does what I need of it, though - on to other things for Aero. I desperate want a Pioneer in black. It's a great timing for me, actually.... I love my Thirties halfbelt in brown FQHH. I have long wanted one in black (with a few slight modifications), but I was in two minds recently as to whether I could justify two of the same thing with only minor differences... The Pioneer is ideal if I get it in black fqhh (shame the new hide doesn't come in black; I also considered goat if it had come black too, but Amanda told me that can only get it in seal and russet). Something diferent than the Thirties, but not too similar to the Highwayman either. Funny thing, that - I had a cheapish but reasonable jacket in a Hgihwayman style years ago. Sold it on eBay when it really needed relining and that would have been too expensive as against the value of the jacket (I think it was new at seventy quid; relining would have been at least thirty to forty at the time). Didn't think I'd want another as I tend to prefer a more fitted leather. So, so glad I took a punt on the steer/cow apprentice made one I picked up a couple of months ago, though. I was unsure about the looser fit at first, but it has become a real favourite. Ideal for the rockabilly thing... actually, it has drawn a lot of admiration on that circuit. Always a bonus to have something different (and easier to justify more jackets then.... ).

Hence, the need to own many jackets But for me, I don't want any clothing that will allow for me to get lazy again and gain weight. I worked hard to get rid of it and if I get a jacket that's too forgiving, I might slip! Plus, a fuller cut jacket on us taller guys doesn't look as good as one that fits a bit slimmer. I had that with the Steer HWM I got - it felt great but looked too big on me. So I listened to the peanut gallery here and sold it. Sadly for the buyer, the USPS "lost" it.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Aero with some of the guys at Indygear worked on getting this one put out years ago. I'm not sure about the origin of this current pattern. For me it still looks like a clumsy slab of leather, which is partly the attraction of using a softer goat or (God forbid) lamb. When the jacket creases and drapes in that way, you forget the clunky A2 inspired design. When you see Indy jackets hanging up made of a stiffer hide like cow or this new one by Aero, they look a bit unconvincing. Again, I'd love to see this puppy after 10 years of wear.