Watch for Pilots - what function U ever use?

[SASless]

I will stick to my Rolex GMT Master thank you very much. Math is to be done on the FMS or within one's noggin. In time Heliport...you will not be able to read the teeny weeny hands on the special function displays!

(Hint....cardinal numbers are easier...60/90/120.....):E

[eagle 86]

You know what they say - "Big watch, little dick"!!
GAGS E86

[Outwest]

Yeah, what's your point?:p

[B Sousa]

Eagle 86. Used to be in the Army,Helicopter Pilots were listed as Big Watch, Corvette, and a Hardon..... Times have changed.....
No Corvette

[Gunship]

SAAF pilots in my time :

Big watch (normally Seiko)

Big Tear Drop Ray Ban's ..

small di:mad: s :E

[on21]

A woman walked into a Police station and said she'd been sexually assaulted by a Pilot.

The Police Officer asked her how she was so sure the offender was a Pilot.

The lady said

"Well Officer he had a big watch, a little dick and he couldn't stop talking about himself"

All that said I've an Omega Seamaster and they don't come much bigger than that!!!!!!!:O

[ground effect]

Here is one of many good sites for generally unbiased product research

http://www.timezone.com/

Many well known watch makers use `standard movements` produced by companies who only make movements. Although that said some swiss companies do make entire watch (including movement) from scratch.

I have an OMEGA Speedmaster - the only watch worn on the moon!! (not that I am going there any time soon...)


http://www.omegawatches.com/omega/wo_space_history1


Will last me until the day I die!!

[Stringfellow Dork]

Pardon my ignorance but why so much money?

I would have hoped £300 would be enough to spend on a watch (Citizen Titanium Skyhawk or similar) to be sure of a level of quality. But 1500 quid?!

What's so good about them that warrants such a whacking price tag?

Is the price increase really commensurate with quality?

[wishtobflying]

All right, seriously now ... how many of you who own a watch with a slide rule actually use it ... 1. While flying ....2. Ever, at all

I bought that Breitling watch off the guy that had it on ebay, yeah it's a ripoff but I paid next to nothing for it. It doesn't work properly - but the slide rule works.

It's so damn heavy though, why wouldn't you just have a flight calculator handy ... at 1/50th the weight!?

So seriously ... how many of you have found yourself flying with your knees while peering at the tiny numbers on the dial trying to work out your fuel burn?

[Genghis the Engineer]

For that matter, how many people actually use the stopwatch on their wristwatch? I do, but not many pilots I've flown with do, they usually use a separate item.

G

Happy Seiko Military wearer, with no desire for anything even heavier or more expensive (but do wish the stopwatch went on longer than 30 minutes before resetting).

[anjouan]

Over 40 years of flying and never needed anything but a cheap ordinary watch. Aircraft normally has a stopwatch if I need it, and I use a very old Jeppesen rotary version of the E2B which fits in my shirt pocket and can be operated with one hand if I need it in flight. I find it much better to keep my brain alive by the simplified use of good old fashioned mental arithmetic. I like a good alarm clock though as at my age it's a bit difficult getting up in the morning soemtimes :ok:

[ASMUS]

There are watches dedicated specially for pilots with function may be usefull in the air.
But, did U ever use any of them?
What is No1 watch in your opinion and why this is Breitling :) ?
Regards
Tomasz

[212man]

I have one where the quick moving thin hand points at the seconds, the big hand points at the minutes, and the little hand points at the hours. I find it great for being able to tell the time:ok: (it's also got a rotating bezel and a second hour hand for GMT or time zone info which I find useful too)

[Floppy Link]

Haven't worn a watch for years. There is a big clock tower beside the pad for noting lift / landing times!

[rotorspin]

Ok, I will take the bait and open myself up for ridicule. Breitling Emergency

Never used it in an emergency and hopefully never will...

Bit of a gimmick really...

[Rotorbike]

Rotorspin..... snap!

:)

[Disguise Delimit]

I got one wif a compass, barometer, altimeter, and thermometer in it, and it even tell the time and has an alarm and everyfink.

The time comes in really handy, the rest just go to prove that pilots are the ones with big watches and little .... umm.... bank balances.:8

[sir.pratt]

citizen titanium skyhawk eco-drive - i use it (the rotating bezel) all the time when doing vfr cross country flying. only hassle is that it does not have a light, but the glowing stuff is very efficient

http://www.princetonwatches.com/shop/JR3060-59F.asp

[SHKpilot]

citizen titanium skyhawk eco-drive - i use it (the rotating bezel) all the time when doing vfr cross country flying. only hassle is that it does not have a light, but the glowing stuff is very efficient


Got one of these too, got some great gizmos on it (mostly unused) but the fact it never ever needs batteries is cool :D

[Pandalet]

I never use my watch for flying, as it's small and dainty and somewhat difficult to read quickly; plus there's a perfectly good clock in the instrument panel which is easier to look at anyway...

[Whirlygig]

Watches that don't need batteries have been around for years!

I can't wear quartz movement watches; only mechanical watches so it somewhat limits me to Oris and Rolex!

I use my watch when flying to note down take-off and landing time and there's a stop-watch in the cockpit. Not quite sure what the practical use of the other gizmos is.

Cheers

Whirls

[helopat]

Being the good citizen I am, I wear a citizen watch...hell, it tells time (analog) and has a digital window which shows UTC and a few other time zone local times, but generally just the basic bits for me.

The USN were really big on G-SHOCK watches when I was there...really gi-normous...was I compensating for a deficiency? Not sure, but if I'd ever been in a high G impact, my bloody arm would've been ripped off due to the sheer mass of the darned thing.

Geez I feel better being out of the G-SHOCK closet.

HeloPat

[Teefor Gage]

Don't need a watch - when flying that's the cojo's job!!
When I am at home, that's the wife's job

[Lightning_Boy]

I have a Breitling Navitimer. Could never use a CRP-5 so no chance with this thing. But hey, I normally have the biggest watch in the room which is what being a pilot is all about!!! :E

LB

[rotorboater]

some of the guys doing cattle work in Aus must use the electric watches, but after the batteries run out the R22 gets lots more use for the same hours!;)

[John Eacott]

Gadgets for telling the time:

In the cockpit

Mobile phone (in the hands free cradle, best and easiest to read)
Digital clock
GPS
Hourly time pips on the radio

In the office

Mobile phone
Office phone display
Computer display
Hourly time pips on the radio

What do you need a watch for? ;)

Oh, a very old Tag, on a grotty velcro strap :ok:

[verticalhold]

Ok Breitling B2. The mechanical one with the slide rule bezel. Set the bezel for the fuel burn for the aircraft I am flying and then read off all the answers to the utterly absurd plog they make us fill in here.

Absolutely love the watch and it has the added benefit that a lot of people with no interest in aviation wouldn't know what its for.:ok:

[SASless]

Rolex GMT MasterII works just fine for flying.

Instead of time ticks on the map....I use mileage. Mileage marks correlate to GPS dist to run data for the waypoint being used to nav to/from. Makes finding your actual location on the map much easier.

[ShyTorque]

Citizen Titanium Eco-drive. It shows the time and the date, that's all I need. :ok:

Was given a Breitling Aviator Chronometric watch to fly with but I actually prefer the Citizen. It's smaller and more discreet but just as accurate and it has a proper second hand. It cost about 9% of the cost of the Breitling.

The Breitling's bezel annoyingly catches and pulls threads out of my jacket sleeve. :*

[Flingwing207]

I have a digital Suunto with big numbers set to 24-hour time, and the second time zone set to Zulu. It has a sweep second hand presentation.

Helicopter has a timer for startup/shutdown and 15-minute checks.

[B Sousa]

Rolex GMT Master BY FAR the best.....................for getting a conversation going at Pubs with the opposite ones. Maximum Bling Bling.
As to flying who cares, we can check the time when we get there.

[BlenderPilot]

I have a high techonolgy Swatch that I regularly use as protection to smash my hand against doors and furniture.

[GLSNightPilot]

For years, I used a Timex with digital and analog display, and date display. I need the date so I can remember whether it's an even or odd day, and so know which engine to start first. I need an analog display for calculating ETA without having to do arithmetic. I used to use the digital time for recording takeoff and landing time, but I no longer need that, because the EFB does it automagically. Sometimes. If it works. It often doesn't. If not, then I call and get the times from the comm center's computer. These days I use a Seiko Kinetic, which doesn't require a battery. It has a basic analog display and shows the date, so it's all I need. I only bought it because I found it cheap on a store closing sale, and I don't have to worry about buying new batteries and changing them. In flight, there is a clock with stopwatch functions on the dash, plus the GPS, plus the EFB which does all sorts of calculations, so I rarely need a watch in flight, much less all the other functions.

[Devil 49]

VibraLITE3

Two time displays (selectable 12/24 hour formats) with day and date- I set the primary for Zulu and secondary as local;
Two alarms with a choice of alerts- flashing light, vibration, a beeper, or combination;
A repeating countdown timer;
A stopwatch with the usual split/lap, etc.;
And illumination that can be activated by movement.
I fly in a large fleet, the helo's clocks can be and are all over the panel, while my watch is always on my right wrist.
Except that it's cheap and plain- well, to be truthful it's ugly- it's the perfect pilot watch. The alarm works to get me quietly up for those oh-dark thirty departures without disturbing the family, and works well in the cockpit, various reminders and time monitoring functions.

http://www.globalassistive.peachhost.com/ct_PRvl300ss.htm

[ron-powell]

SAS and BSousa:

1976 Rolex GMT Master. Turned 30 in May. Looses about 15 seconds a month. Not too bad.

Won't own anything else.

Ron Powell

[SirVivr]

Currently a Breitling Aerospace. However, it takes on water and quits everytime I get in a pool. Had it "repaired" numerous times with the same result. Probably because I pushed the timer when I was doing a deep dive. Expressly told NOT TO DO in the Manual. Which pilot reads manuals? Anyways, I now get the batteries replaced in a small shop in Porntip Plaza, Bangkok. Saves $ 250 each time the watch needs servicing. The first time the shop owner printed on the inside of the cover something in Thai. He smiled and said, " One year guarentee." I think my warrenty may be void. Looks like I must go visit Izzy each year for a proper time hack.

Sold my real GMT Master when I realized it couldn't be worn in the places I like to frequent.

Used to wear my Lolex GMT to maybe impress the local female co-pilots. Band kepy breaking.

Timex and aircraft clocks for billing.

Chas A

[SASless]

Chas....you and Izzy are probably drinking Pile Drivers now instead of the Screw Drivers from the old days. For the Not Knowing....that is prune juice and vodka with a Geritol Chaser;) !

[Fun Police]

timex ironman because i am a cheap git and black sabbath tunes make me happy.

[jeffrey1]

Bought a Citizen Skyhawk. Wore it around awhile until I realized noone cared if I was a pilot with a big watch and the E6B was too small to do anything with anyway.
No longer wear a watch and get my lift times from the timer on my kneeboard.

[malabo]

Something easy to read at night that gives GMT time. I think at the top and bottom you have the Rolex GMT/Explorer II (big bucks) or Steinhart GMT Ocean 1 ($540) - for you guys that want to have a "no regret" night at the Bush Bar. I've heard the Omega GMT is a nice too, priced somewhere in-between.

I use the GMT function and date calendar - saves the look of befuddlement from the fire-guard when you start the wrong engine that day.

20 years ago all the Europeans had Breitlings and all the Americans had Rolex. My Breitling Navitimer had one of those slide-rule thingies that my eyes stopped being able to read about the same time I was able to afford one.

Don't get a leather band, they rot out in short order in the tropics. I've always had metal, but have seen some pilots with the black rubber diver strap. Maybe someone can post how comfortable those are.

Any other functions are triplicated on the average instrument panel these days, especially with a modern GPS/FMS.

Malabo

[cl12pv2s]

Citizen Eco-Drive SkyHawk

In flight, I don't use it much at all! However, it does have some invaluable functions.

I bought it for the multiple time zones..very useful to be able to switch from one to another without having to reset the base GMT.

Multiple alarms are also useful. Can work as a sort of snooze alarm function.

Countdown timer is great for setting the start of sailing races, or timing eggs.

I like the fact that it is solar-powered...should in theory last for ever, and very useful indeed if stuck on desert island for a few years.

Occasionally use the slide rule 'rotating bezel' for approximations, but the calculator in the cockpit works much better!

I miss having a light.

cl12pv2s

[spinwing]

Mmmmmmm .......

I'll have to ask the Flight Service guy what watch he/I use! :} .....

and the landlord tells me when its time to crawl home .... :hmm:

:E :E :E

[asara]

As long as it has dual time on the one screen, then it's good enough for me.

[Head Turner]

Damm thing on my wrist that gets in the way and annoys me but regulations say I have to have a serviceable timepeice in the cockpit and so just in case the panal fitted one has a spring failure I wear a watch. Do I look at it.... hardly ever, but I do when it's getting close to 'home' time, mustn't be late or it's hell at home. Oh I have used it for filling in the tech log but I could equally have used a sun dial because the super modern electronic gadget on the instrument panal gives all the answers.

During my army days a watch could be used to navigate with as long as the sun was shining, really useful.

Gizmos on a watch are like the gizmos on a mobile phone, lovely to have but who uses them other than the small minority. Gadgets, gadgets are an obsession and we love them really. That's why Breitling makes them.

[Lord Mount]

Fila combined watch/heart rate monitor.
It just allows me to check later how scared I was.:eek: :eek: :eek:

[SirVivr]

SAS:

Never got hooked on Geritol. As you know, scotch works better than other non-prescription medications. G-Man prefers Crown Royal, possible reference to Izzy, but I haven't been able to determne who is Rose's Mia Noi.

Looking for the boat. Check PM.

Chas

[airyana]

During my army days a watch could be used to navigate with as long as the sun was shining, really useful.




can you expand on this plz

[GLSNightPilot]

If you point the hour hand at the sun, then south is generally halfway between the hour hand and the minute hand. More info here. (http://wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/navigation/rbsolarnav/index.html)

[John Eacott]

If you point the hour hand at the sun, then south is generally halfway between the hour hand and the minute hand.

Minute hand? :eek: :p

An hourly rotation of North/South must truly be something to behold :D

[B Sousa]

"Turned 30 in May. Looses about 15 seconds a month. Not too bad."
Just remember a couple of things .
1. If you ever need repair, and although its expensive send it to Rolex only.
2. If it loses time OK, if it looses Women even better.

[SASless]

No wonder GLS has so many flying hours!;)

[paco]

Hmmm - I just use something basic (Certina DS Pilot):

http://www.watcharama.com/ce001.htm

The ability to see the darn thing in the dark should not be understimated. Used to use the seiko military one, but I still needed a torch.

For some reason I've never needed a stopwatch or an E6B (and who needs a tachymeter anway?). I would find the day of the week slightly useful as well, but I have no plans to change this one, although they have versions with stopwatches.

Phil

[John Eacott]

For some reason I've never needed a stopwatch

I gave up counting to 120 seconds for shutdown: much easier to use the stopwatch ;)



Fish, barrel....must stop now :rolleyes:

[TukTuk BoomBoom]

Although dive watches are great, since they have a simple count-down bezel and are pretty robust, id have to say an alarm is the most important thing if your doing bush work to wake you up in the morning or remind you of the next flight etc.

The rest of the typical magazine-ad giant watch with slide rule functions is for people who like dressing up as pilots and thinking watches attract women in bars (as some numb-nut recently posted).
Rolex watches are OK but they lose time and are made for wankers who believe 007 exists and wears the same watch they do.

[paco]

John - I can't count past 37 anyway, so I just watch the second hand (the one next to Mickey Mouse's hand) :)

Phil

[Whirlygig]

Rolex watches are OK but they lose time and are made for wankers who believe 007 exists and wears the same watch they do.
Or those who can't wear quartz movement watches?

Cheers

Whirls

[Capt Hollywood]

Evening all,

I have a Breitling B1, it looks good, not too big, don't really use the slide rule and the numbers are probably too small to read in flight anyway. So why did I buy it when I could have bought a cheap one that would have done basically everything I use the Breitling for? Because I wanted a nice watch, plain and simple. Oh, and of course for those NVG ops that we all do the light is NVG compatible! :ok:

Hey Whirls,

May I ask why you can't wear a watch with Quartz movement?

Cheers,

CH :cool:

[B Sousa]

" lose time and are made for wankers who believe 007 exists "

Dont spoil it, I saw him the other night . Also see Elvis regularly, but Hey, its Vegas.

Anyway, Casio has all the bells and whistles.

[GLSNightPilot]

Well, I suppose in Oz that's how you find north. It must be disorienting to spend your life upside down. :rolleyes:

If you have a Rolex, the minute hand is always on 12, isn't it? :ouch: :O

John, if you get a nice Ariel engine, you don't need a stopwatch. Just land run the after landing and engine shutdown checklists, and your 30 seconds are up, and you shut down. :cool:

Whirls, why would one not be able to wear a watch with a quartz movement? A personality too electric? I've never heard of that particular affliction.

[gerogedonal]

I have just started using a digital watch with a dedicated pilot/avaition function. its easy to use and keeps a log note of the last 99 flights duration, start and stop time and total flight time. Also does up to 20 nav legs within each flight with ave speed function. Great fun and easy to use! Nice light that stays on for 10 secs. found it here
http://www.astopwatch.co.uk/products/aviationwatches.asp

[Jetboxer]

I find this timepiece far superior to the Breitling Aerospace.
http://www.totallythomas.net/Details.cfm?ProdID=196

[212man]

" lose time and are made for wankers who believe 007 exists "

Well, how else do you expect me to keep my GMT II wound??:p

[g-mady]

Often use the outer biezel to mark a time, but the flight computer is one of those things that you need to use every day to know how to use it, its backwards to a normal crp-5 so its even more akward.
Anyway most helo pilots tend to only have one hand free in the air (occasionally) so they dont get much use!
MADY

[Aesir]

This Fastime RW2 watch is really neat "gerogedonal".

Looks like I´m getting an early christmas present from myself. I just have to get that.

Is this web link the where you got the best price (99 UKp) on the watch "gerogedonal"?

[aquila105]

Bell Ross Space 3. Good visibility. I use the Chronometer quite often. Used a Breitling Aerospace for a while, but I am done with Quartz powered watches.
Altought fairly precise, quartz movement are very simple and inexpensive ($ 30.00) which doesn't giustify the high price tag on Breitlings.
Happy with my Lemania movement. A little hystory on the wrist plus it does a great job keeping time.

[GLSNightPilot]

Aquila, the accuracy of quartz watches and their economy have made me decide the opposite. I won't buy an expensive watch. I can get a better watch for less money, and if I lose it or break it it's not a traumatic event. I once lost a watch off my wrist loading baggage at night on a hurricane evac, and didn't even realize it was gone until we were back at the base. Gone forever, but I bought a new Timex and didn't even think twice about it. Breitling? I would have cried, but in actuality I would never buy one, or even wear it regularly if someone gave me one. Its only use is for snob appeal, and I care more about utility than style.

[aquila105]

Hell, I once use to date this hugly woman. I could kick her, treat her badly, sleep around, but she was always there. She was operating for very little money and never ask for more. One night, during a hurricane she left and I didn't even notice. Next day I went to the same bar and got me another one just as hugly. It was beautiful. I didn't have to worry about a thing!
I always thank god 'cause the first one that left was so hugly and I really didn't care. If she would've been beautiful, I would've been miserable and I hate that. I'd rather sleep with the hugly one, so that I don't have to worry about a thing!
Anyway, one could apply your philosophy to cars and drive a Pinto, but I'd rather live with style, and enjoy beauty if I can afford it!

No offense Mate , I do respect your point of view, just having a little fun I guess.

By the way, I do drive a Pinto and love it.

Well, it's really a lie, but it feels good to say it. I did drive a FIAT 500 for a while only 'cause it was all I could afford. I don't miss it tough.

[SASless]

212man.....we were calling you that long before you bought the big watch!:uhoh: