{"product_id":"vintage-cirrus-a-2-steerhide-flight-jacket-usaf-pattern-made-in-england","title":"Vintage Cirrus A-2 Steerhide Flight Jacket, USAF Pattern, Made in England","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSomeone wore this jacket for years, and the leather shows every one of them. It's waxed steerhide, first finished in a seal brown. Wherever it creased and rubbed, across the chest, over the shoulders and down both sleeves, the wax has lifted and the russet red beneath has come through in streaks and clouds. The pocket flaps and collar, handled least, still hold their darker brown. It's a heavy, substantial hide, and the kind of patina that can't be made, only earned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eA small leather patch inside states what it is: \u003cem\u003eType U.S.A.F. A2, Made in England\u003c\/em\u003e. It was made by Cirrus, the Norfolk flying-jacket maker founded in 1982, to one of the most recognisable patterns in aviation clothing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe United States Army Air Corps standardised the A-2 on 9 May 1931. It replaced the buttoned A-1 with a zip front and a leather drop collar, and added snap-flap pockets, shoulder straps and knitted wool at the cuffs and waist. The originals were seal brown horsehide, and cowhide and goatskin were approved as the war approached. Procurement ended in 1943, but the A-2 went on being worn in every theatre long after, and American crews made it their own. They painted their aircraft, their names and their missions across the backs, and the jackets became known as Painted Ladies. The Smithsonian holds the A-2 of Technical Sergeant Darnell, radio operator on the B-26 \u003cem\u003eFlak-Bait\u003c\/em\u003e, painted with the aircraft and 65 bombs, one for each mission. The Air Force reintroduced the A-2 in 1987, and it is still issued to pilots today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCirrus kept the pattern simple and correct. The drop collar snaps down at the points, leather straps run across both shoulders, and the two front pockets close under flaps whose hidden snaps have pressed small rounded marks into the leather. A full-length zip closes the front. The cut is trim and sits close at the hip. In the workshop we've fitted new dark brown knitted ribbing to the cuffs and waistband, so it closes neatly at the wrist and waist as an A-2 should. The one thing no wartime quartermaster would recognise is inside: a bright red cotton lining, with a Cirrus label at the neck showing a Spitfire in flight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eAn English-made A-2 in steerhide, with the first chapter of its story already written in the leather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition \u0026amp; Restoration\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eVery good vintage condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe waxed steerhide is heavy, thick and full of body, a hide with real weight to it that holds its shape on its own. It shows natural creasing, light scuffs and the rich two-tone patina described above. The zip and snaps all work as they should, and the red cotton lining is complete.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe cuffs and waistband have been replaced in the workshop with new dark brown knitted ribbing, matched to the jacket. The leather has been professionally cleaned in-house and has come up beautifully, with the patina left fully intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMade in England by Cirrus, Norfolk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCut to the 1931 US Army Air Corps Type A-2 pattern\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeavy waxed steerhide with a deep brown to russet patina\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLeather \"Type U.S.A.F. A2, Made in England\" patch label\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCirrus Spitfire label at the neck\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLeather drop collar with snap-down points\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLeather shoulder straps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo flap pockets with hidden snaps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull-length front zip\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew dark brown knitted ribbing at the cuffs and waistband\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRed cotton lining\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGarment Measurements, Laid Flat\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChest, armpit to armpit: 26\" \/ 66 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShoulders, seam to seam: 21.5\" \/ 54.5 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSleeve, shoulder seam to cuff: 28.5\" \/ 72.5 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnderarm seam to cuff: 22\" \/ 56 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBack length, base of collar to hem: 28\" \/ 71 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBest suited to:\u003c\/strong\u003e 48\" chest \/ Size XXL\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFit:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e A generous, civilian-friendly A-2 fit rather than the very cropped, restrictive cut of some strict wartime reproductions. It has a substantial 26\" pit-to-pit measurement, broad shoulders and generous sleeve and body length, while the knitted waistband brings the jacket in neatly at the hip in the traditional A-2 manner.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor the best indication of sizing, please compare the measurements above with a similar jacket you already own. For any sizing questions, please get in touch.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Revive \u0026 Restore Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54859731796291,"sku":"EB5149","price":495.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0786\/2232\/7107\/files\/IMG_7045.jpg?v=1790950681","url":"https:\/\/reviverestorevintage.co.uk\/products\/vintage-cirrus-a-2-steerhide-flight-jacket-usaf-pattern-made-in-england","provider":"Revive \u0026 Restore Vintage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}