Black A-2

[twofivexray]

Has anyone ordered the black A-2 Jacket from Vanguard? I'm wondering how it compares to the U.S. Wings A-2 which is more expensive?

[ltcmark]

I have seen the Vangard jacket, the Wings jacket is much higher quality.  You really get what you pay for.  When I was in the market for a brown A-2, an Air Force officer said that he and all his squadron order from http://www.popsleather.com/. 

I was a little leery dealing with someone in Turkey, but I ordered one.  It took about a month to get it, but it was made to my measurements and customized with a lot of pockets.  I highly recommend the hand warmer pockets.

[vento]

The black A2 sold by Vanguard is from U.S. Wings. The quality is really good.
The label on mine reads:

US WINGS (logo)
Since 1986
USWINGS.COM
DWC NO.30-1415
A.C. CONTRACT
U.S.A.

followed by a smaller tag showing the US flag and the word "MADE IN U.S.A."

It also comes with Velcro sewn in place for both the name tag and also the MajCom.
A member from our squadron purchased an US WINGS from some online store, the quality was about the same, but it did not come with the Velcro for the MajCom sewn in place.

I don't know if Vanguard changes their sources from time to time or not. You can always call them and ask for more details.

[tsrup]

I bought mine about 2 years ago from Vanguard and it is also a US Wings jacket..

[es_g0d]

I highly recommend Pops Leather for A2 jackets.  They're known throughout the Air Force, and having visited the store, I find their quality in jackets is unparalleled.
-Scott

[lordmonar]

I got my jackets (one black and one brown) from Airborne Leathers.

Nice price, very good quality.

http://airborne-leathers.com/

[Al Sayre]

^^ Ditto.  They're not as heavy as some I've seen, but they're plenty warm enough for the winters in MS.

[SarDragon]

And mostly too warm for winters in SoCal.

[Al Sayre]

I was wishing I'd brought mine to the NB's.

[SarDragon]

I was wishing I'd brought mine to the NB's.

In Sandy Eggo? YGBSM! I was cookin' in my blazer. You need some TAD up in Minnesota or North Dakota. Yeah, go work for Sam at Minot.

You got a serious case of "lightweight" goin'  there.

[twofivexray]

So could this really be true, that Vanguard is actually giving us a discount?

[HGjunkie]

So could this really be true, that Vanguard is actually giving us a discount?

For the past several months, yes.

[a2capt]

NB's as in while you were here in August? .. If that was cold, the equator must be mis-labeled on the maps.

[Al Sayre]

Yeah, SD in August.  I came from MS where it was high 90's in the day and mid 80's at night to SD where it was low 80's in the day and low 60's at night.  I was feeling pretty chilly during the evening events (at least until I upped the antifreeze concentration).