Plane Crazy WW II A-2's

[Hopalong]

Over the years I've had several original WW II A-2's and etc, original WW II USN Flight Jackets and the only Repro A-2 I've ever had was an Eastman over 15 years ago which I sold. I'm thinking of getting a Repro A-2 again after all of these years but don't want to pay an Eastman price again even though I loved the authenticity of the jacket and I'm wondering if anyone knows the quality of the WW II A-2 Repros sold on the Plane Crazy web site out of Colorado or can anyone suggest any A-2 Repros in the same price range that they think might be better. Thanks Mike

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Very cheaply priced. Doesn't say what the knits are made of...or liner.
For that price..see what their return policy is..then try one. However..you usually get what you pay for.....
HD

 

[Hopalong]

I realize you get what you pay for because I've had the originals and the expensive Repro but I'm not that particular anymore because I don't collect and research WW II Aviation anymore and have been liquidating my collection of 17 years little by little for the last 5 years and will settle for an inexpensive decent Repro. I called the owner awhile back and he said no problem on returns you just pay shipping which is a guarantee that's fine with me as long as the seller will take the A-2 back if I'm not happy with it or it doesn't fit right. Mike

 

[kojax]

i looked at plane crazy website. if i am right the jackets are made bye cockpit . they are the same jackets cockpit sell.....look at there website......

 

[Hopalong]

Kojax,
the first jackets with the patches on Plane Crazy look like the Cockpit jackets but when you start looking at the rest of the A-2's on the following pages even the colors look different. I bought 2 Cockpit A-2's in 1979 or 80 and they were both a medium brown and beautiful and when I sold and traded them I got a good price and trade but several years later when my friends bought new Cockpit A-2's the color and quality and sizing weren't the same.

 

[Senicko_Spain]

Hell, looks like a good deal to me. As long as you're happy and no one but you really cares about what you wear anyway. Great price in this economy, sure beats paying ELC or GW prices.

 

[Hopalong]

Steve
I see we walk agreed and have the same logic about Repro jackets. Mike

 

[Senicko_Spain]

Steve
I see we walk agreed and have the same logic about Repro jackets. Mike

I didn't think think this way before, but lately with the way things are going, I normally only wear one jacket and it's a repro. Yes, it's an ELC, but I still never receive any complements. I have several original A-2s worth considerably more but when I wear them I really won't get any comments either. I wear what I like, but I must also consider where I am. I can't wear a patched original A-2 to a dressy dinner, but it looks great in jeans out on the town. A jacket is a jacket to 90% - 99% of the folks, if it looks good then it really doesn't matter if it costs 2000 or 200 dollars. It's a paradigm shift in my way of thinking lately.

 

[jamespibworth@n]

When I put on my ELC or Aero A2s or any of my repros, I think of the person who made it, the work and research put into it and the fact that is a hand made product.

Most people won’t notice any of this, but I know.

Having said that my pals £25. EBay Banana Republic A2 esque jacket looks great and he is happy with it.

Horses for courses

James.

P.S
Mike, have you thought about another Eastman but from EBay?

 

[Dudleydoright]

I didn't think think this way before, but lately with the way things are going, I normally only wear one jacket and it's a repro. Yes, it's an ELC, but I still never receive any complements. I have several original A-2s worth considerably more but when I wear them I really won't get any comments either. I wear what I like, but I must also consider where I am. I can't wear a patched original A-2 to a dressy dinner, but it looks great in jeans out on the town. A jacket is a jacket to 90% - 99% of the folks, if it looks good then it really doesn't matter if it costs 2000 or 200 dollars. It's a paradigm shift in my way of thinking lately.

Steve,
I never thought I'd see this day arrive Steve. That sure is a change in attitude of colossal proportions.:eusa_clap Have to say I'm the same; I could care diddlysquat what other people think and wear my jackets to suit the occassion, weather and my mood. The sad reality for me is that a lot of jackets I really love the look of look better lying flat on a table than they do on me. Especially A-2's and B-3's. I think that they look great but don't suit my frame non too well.
When I start to wear things that I'm worried that 0.001% of the population will sneer at, it's time to get in the pine box.

Dave

 

[Senicko_Spain]

Steve,
I never thought I'd see this day arrive Steve. That sure is a change in attitude of colossal proportions. Have to say I'm the same; I could care diddlysquat what other people think and wear my jackets to suit the occassion, weather and my mood. The sad reality for me is that a lot of jackets I really love the look of look better lying flat on a table than they do on me. Especially A-2's and B-3's. I think that they look great but don't suit my frame non too well.
When I start to wear things that I'm worried that 0.001% of the population will sneer at, it's time to get in the pine box.

Dave
__________________
Dave.
If God had wanted me to touch my toes, he would have put them on my knees.

Thanks Dave, I have been working hard on changing my attitude toward jacket collecting as well as life in general. I think they go hand in hand. I buy, I sell, but mainly buy on a whim and the fact that the jacket looks good but then never wear it. Why? Don't know, guess they appeal to me better in the closet than on my back. Not worth it. I end up wearing one repro cuz I like it and never wear the ones I have repaired or bought with the pretense of wearing. I am in the process of selling off most of what I have, not quite sure how I will go about it, 3rd party most likely or offered here on this forum at a later date. As I said it's all part of my paradigm shift to more important things, family, work and life in general.

 

[Dudleydoright]

Cool

Sounds like a good philosophy Steve.

as they say; there's no pockets in a shroud. You certainly can't take all those jackets with you. Robert Louis Stephenson said " the more a man possesses above his needs, the more careworn he becomes". Travel light and travel easy is how I see it.

Dave

 

[Hopalong]

James,
I'd be kind of stuck if I bought an Eastman on Ebay and it didn't fit where as if I bought an A-2 from a catalog I could send it back and get the right size. When I was collecting WW II Aviation over 15 years ago I was real particular about the A-2 I was going to wear so that's why I bought an Eastman A-2 but anymore as long as an A-2 looks close to an original and not the cost of an Eastman I'll be happy with it. I did find out that Plane Crazy A-2's cuffs are a cotton wool blend and the liners on their issue A-2's are a cotton and a satin blend on there special A-2's. Mike