PCHFlyer

I haven't screened the other answers, so this may be a repeat. In general, the Air Force needs pilots in every airframe and they are reluctant (with exceptions) to requalify pilots in other specialties (fighter vs heavys). It is expensive, time consuming, and leaves an empty seat in the previous fleet.

I have the early 90's Orchard issue A-2. Like an earlier poster, I passed on the original tan "vinyl-y" first vendor. I was able to pick mine off the rack at supply, and found one with a rich dark brown leather (there was a lot of color variation). I had the usual mods done by Pop's at Incirlik. It was unwearable without those mods, IMO especially the side-entry pockets. Then, it sat in my closet for almost 30 years until.. now. I never liked the "Top Gun wannabe" look of wearing an issue jacket in public, but I took the velcro completely off, and now it looks better without, having aged a bit. I'm going to work on the shape with a little careful wetting and heat gun to relax the button-down look of the collar, but I've been wearing it a lot recently, although on CA the jacket season is short.