Cooper Original™ Antique Bison A-2! In the Old West, bison leather was prized for its strength and durability. Commonly used in the clothing and gear of the time. We’ve taken that same “tough as nails” leather and created a unique flight jacket: our Cooper Original™ Antique Bison A-2. Leather is all natural, not sanded or shaved. Manufactured to the same strict military standards and specs as our military-issue A-2s. The farm-raised Bison leather is as rugged and durable as cowhide with the suppleness of lambskin. Antique seal brown finish features beautiful graining. Perfect mixture of classic styling, uniqueness of material, comfort, durability and outstanding craftsmanship. For an A-2 jacket that’s constructed from a truly distinctive leather, our Antique Bison A-2 is the one to get! Built like a tank and made to last a lifetime! Imported The Cooper Original™ Antique Bison A-2 features: 100% Antique Bison leather Hand Aged Two front cargo pockets Side-entry hand-warmer pockets Snap-down collar Interior pocket Nylon lining Underarm gussets One-piece back panel Knit cuffs & waistband Brown satiny lining Color: Antique Brown US Wings Bomber Jackets mean History & Heritage Protect your jacket with our new jacket care products. These products are all natural and hand made in the USA. It will help preserve your new jacket or add years back to your old one. Exposure to the elements and regular wear will dry out and fade your jacket. Replenish your jacket now! History of Cooper: Founded in 1922, Cooper manufactured raincoats for the US Army in 1917-1918 as well as field jackets from 1941-1945. On January 5 1942, Cooper was awarded the contract to produce A-2 jackets for the USAAF during WWII. In 1988, they were awarded a contract to produce A-2s for the USAF; the jackets were created using patterns from an original A-2 but were made in a fuller cut to accommodate modern physiques. In 1996, they were awarded a contract from the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) to re-design the A-2 into what would become the current military-issue version. Fit & functionality upgrades were made to this venerable Air Force flight jacket, including side-entry hand-warmer pockets and an interior pocket (which had previously only been available on civilian A-2 versions, not on military-issue A-2s), underarm gussets, and a more roomy fit. Their contribution to the civilian market was no less significant. Cooper produced a range of A-2s, G-1s, Indy jackets and more to customers around the world. US Wings partnered with Cooper in 1986 and ending when Cooper ceased production in the late 1990s. US Wings is the official home of the Cooper name and we’re proud to continue the tradition of excellence. This line consists of classic Cooper jackets as well as a number of “new classics” that are sure to appeal to any leather jacket enthusiast. Rest assured that we’ve retained Cooper’s commitment to quality, putting only the finest materials and the highest level of craftsmanship into the jackets that bear the Cooper Original name. This ensures that our jackets will be of the same high quality as the original Cooper Sportswear jackets worn by your father, grandfather or even great-grandfather. The Modern A-2: The A-2 leather flight jacket is an American military flight jacket. Originally invented and developed for the World War II U.S. Army Air Forces pilots. After a brief period of not issuing jackets to pilots, the modern A-2 was developed and issued. It was said that the popular film, “Top Gun” may have influenced the new A-2. The first Air Force A-2 contract was awarded to Avirex, but all subsequent contracts from 1988 to 1998 were awarded to Neil Cooper USA, now U.S. Wings of Ohio. The modern design differs from the original design in several ways. With a looser fit, made from goatskin in seal brown, side entry pockets, and an inside wallet pockets.
