Good Pilot Watches??

[Flap30]

I know this is a silly post, but I need to invest in a new watch, and wanted to know if my fellow pilots could reccomend a really good one???
I was looking at the RAF issue one from Transair, but do I really need a watch that is resitant to extreme shocks, temperatures etc...... my landings are not that bad!!

Cheers!

Flaps

[Star5]

Yes, what about taking a look at the CASIO range, Model PRT 40.

I have one that is made of Titanium and the functions it has is Air Pressure, OAT in *C/*f, Altitude in m/ft, Directional Compass, magnet reading. and many more features....

this set me back about AUD$320.00

Goodluck.

[AffirmBrest]

There's been quite extensive chat about watches on Prune not too long ago - I don't know whether it was on Wannabes or Tech Log or what, but FYI I bought my digital watch from Argos 4 yrs ago - £6.95 - and it has an alarm (for nightstops on earlies), digital readout (for ease of use after 5 days of earlies!) and a stopwatch. Suits me fine and is a little less pretentious than all those big fancy ones - though if I could actually afford a Breitling then my opinion would be a little different... :)

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...proceeding below Decision Height with CAUTION...

[BIGBAD]

If you're buying a watch don't buy the MOD issue one. They're ok but seem to go tits frequently. When you're issued it for free that' ok as you can swap them one-for-one, but if I had to fork out for it myself I'd think twice.....

[helimutt]

I recommend either the Breitling crosswind, no 782, 793 or 789 in the Breitling catalogue.
The other breitling worth a glimpse are the chrono jetstream cat no 800. Check out the Breitling website for info but don't faint when you see the prices.
I got a catalogue from my local dealer and can't decide on a night and instrument rating or a new watch!!
B****Y marvellous watches though.

[blackknight]

My choice of timepiece is the Breitling aerospace, all the useful features (alarm, chrono, timer, 2nd time zone etc..., good one is the bi-rotational bezel, great for quick adjustments of eta's and ata's etc... and it even looks like an aircraft dial too!!!. I however got mine as a 21st present so didnt have to find enough money for 15hrs in a warrior to buy one!!

[BigTimeWannabe]

If you can afford to fork out the cash and look the part get a Breitling.

[ad astra]

The ultimate pilots watch must surely be the Omega Speedmaster (the 'moon watch') at about 1200 pounds. Or the new version the Omega X-33 which was developed with the help of pilots and astronauts. This has a conventional analogue display and an integrated digital display that is curved between about 11 and 3pm so that you can read it without turning your wrist. Apparently it is standard issue to Shuttle astronauts.
A great buy must be an Accurist watch from Argos (at around 90 pounds). This looks identical to the Citizen Navihawk in the Transair catalogue but without the E6 bezel, and at under half the price.

[sunny77]

I know that there are some excellent watches out there specifically designed for flying etc, but I got sick and tired of replacing the glass cover (after scratching it on a pref-flight inspection/ playing footy with the lads on days off), then getting it pressure tested etc for water proofing. Stumbled across a G-Shock with dual time. US$90. That thing will take a big clout, is water proof, has all of the functions you need, most importantly dual time so you can have UTC and local up at the same time.
Only bad thing is it doesn't look anywhere as good as a Breitling.

[EDDNR]

Sorry but as soon as I see a pilot (particularly a PPL) with a "pilot" watch, the word w*nkr springs to mind. All you need is an accurate timepiece and a ten quid Casio is ideal.

Rod

[GJB]

As long as it tells the time accurately......

[pjdj777]

I got an accurist - £100 and excellent.

Never loses time - easy to read and it seems to have been far more reliable than some Brightlings.

I also got a Citizen which is my "posh" watch, which is very nice.

[AirfixPilot]

Breitling's Old Navitimer is a superb piece of kit if you can afford one. Not only is it sexy as hell but it also has a funky slide rule going around the outside that you can do all of your sums on!

Just have to empty your Swiss bank account to afford one. £1700 for one with a leather strap.

[dingducky]

i have a purple baby G i think it is very pretty
i have played with a watch with a whizz wheel around it. it was fun

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Just because nobody complains doesn't mean all parachutes are
perfect

[The man formerly known as]

Great thread.

My advice is get one you can easily read the time on.

I had a seiko pilots watch (which they sadly don't make any more), great watch but when I was doing the PPL I lost count of the number of time I misread the time by 5 minutes because the face was so cluttered with additional dials. I lost it and I'd love to get another.

I did buy a Breitling Navitimer fake for $40us. It kept time superbly and looked and felt like the real thing but the idiots put a unidirectional bezel on it and the slide rule wasn't printed correctly so you couldn't calaculate on it.

Best watch has got to be the Breitling Navitimer.

[tunneler]

Well I got given a Next £50 job nearly 4 eyars ago and I only had to change the battery last month. Keeps fantastic time and looks pretty good too.

All round Bargain!!! (Although if anyone wants to buy me a nice Gucci one then please feel free!!!)

B
x

[str12]

It all depends on how much you can afford and as I'm doing my PPL now I'd rather spend the money on flying than a flash watch.

A 100 quid Seiko stopwatch thingy with an analogue dial has been good for me so far.

I'll be Indonesia soon so I could pick up an Omega for about 10 quid!

I find that an anologue dial is useful because it vaguely resembles a compass rose...

[EDDNR]

You guys are really kidding when you suggest using a stopwatch function on a watch?

Have you ever flown a hold using a stopwatch? On your wrist?

I rest my case about ego's buying watches. A ten quid Casio and a Russian made stopwatch taped to the yoke. Save your money for the flying!

Rod

[scroggs]

Boys and girls,
this thread is interesting, and fun, but it ain't strictly relevent to wannabes! Off to 'Questions' with you.
Incidentally, the true measures of a (male) pilot are the size of his car and his watch. To compensate for something else that may be very small!!
PS I have both a big car and a big watch. Sad git!

[Eff Oh]

I had the MOD watch from Transair I found it to be a good watch...PPL-ATPL!! In fact I still have it and wear it occationally.
As for now, just to confuse the matter, I have a Rolex Submariner. Yeah I know "Submariner" but I had always wanted one! :)
The Brietling watches are fantastic too! Their catalogue has always got some really great aviation art in it!! Almost woth gtting it just for the pictures!! :)

I have tried to fly a hold with a wrist stopwatch......Sod all use!! :) Surely thats for the FMC though?? :)
EffOh. :)

[Code Blue]

Timex Indiglo $35 from Walmart.

Great for night time, cheap enough to abuse and has a digital display you can set to UTC. Has an alarm for stopovers.

If you need a stopwatch I use a kitchen timer from Radio Shack - big numbers for older eyes :)

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[email protected]

[JJflyer]

I have both Breitling B1 and Aerospace watches... I like the features and design of both of them. Aerospace is a lot lighter than B1 but still this is a impressive timepiece.

JJ

[Boss Raptor]

Zeitner Chronotech - Identical to the military Seiko that Transair sell and only about £95...

Had mine for two years and it has survived West Africa and various other extreme climates hot and cold has luminous numbers so bright you can see the glow from 5 metres...

Good value for money,well made and good looking...have since bought them for some friends as well as incentive rewards for staff!

www.zeitner.com (http://www.zeitner.com)

PS. Face glass got a small crack from being hit by a large spanner last month and Zeitner replaced it free, no charge, no postage, no nothing!!

[Track]

Check out

www.sinn.de (http://www.sinn.de)

They manufacture watches that in tests 9 times out of 10 come out as best buy.
Extremely easy to read ( wich is important to me).
All handbuilt at reasonable prices, wich also means left or right handed, custom features etc.

And of course german engineering!!
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Track



[This message has been edited by Track (edited 07 March 2001).]

[AC-DC]

I have to agree with EDDNR, That what you need and nothing more. When I started to fly I was told by many ‘experience’ pilots what I need to buy in order to make it safe and comfortable, what flying case I should have, what watch I must have etc.
As they all were ‘very experience’ pilots I took their advice and bought the Breitling Emergency.
It is in the drawer for most of the time and is being used only over rare long water crossing.
TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY!

[static]

What does a pilot need a watch for anyway?
The one in the aircraft gets its time from the gps, therefore much better than anything on your wrist.
So you can see when the bar opens? :)

[johntrav69]

Buy something that GLOWS in the dark - invaluable. It helps if it has digi and analogue, and make sure it holds the date as well.

[TowerDog]

Bought a Breitling in Hong Kong 13 years ago and been happy about it. It runs like a, uh,
Swiss Watch.
Found same model $50.00 cheaper in Dubai same year: Way below list price.

When i lerned to fly the cheapest Casios were the best...

The Breitling came after a window seat on the B-747.

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Men, this is no drill...

[clear to land]

Citizen Eco-Drive World Time. Analogue for local, digital for UTC (or whatever time zone you wish). Easy to read face with very luminous markers. Never replace battery as it is backed up by solar cell face. Has all the other usual crap at approx AUD$350.00. It replaced a Wingman, and although it doesn't have an E6 bezel, it is, quite frankly, a better watch.

[chipped prop]

In recent times i have started collecting non quartz watches including aviation watches and x military watches from the second and first world wars mainly from markets and so called boot sales. This has become a hobby and in fact some watches purchased at around £1.00 to £30.00 have been valued at £300 to £800 and upwards, indeed if you look into the value of older named aviation watches (especially on the internet)the value of some makes in good condition is astonishing.Many military watches produced during the second world war are valuable funtional timepieces and above all easy to read. Many with black backgrounds with easy to read faces handy for a quick time reference.The enjoyable aspect for me is that many old wind up watches discarded by many are actually quite collectable. Perhaps steer clear of second world war x Italian military watches as they are unpredictable sometimes going backwards without warning.

[Wrong Stuff]

How appropriate.

[Low_and_Slow]

After seeing "Cast Away" with the wife, I promised her that if I ever fly longhaul over ocean, I'll get one of the Brietling ELT watches (you know, where the crown screws out and becomes part of an ELT antenna transmitting on 121.5). Wouldn't want to come home after a few years and find my beloved and her new husband :)

For now a simple japanese watch that tells the time is fine.

[NoseGunner]

If a Breitling aerospace is cool or sad depending on your viewpoint, what does that make a personalised Breitling, ie one with your aircraft type on the face?
I believe these limited editions are quite common in the military. Is that ultra cool or ultra sad?

[DB6]

So long as it has big hands, preferably with luminous bits on, and tells me the day, date and month, preferably in that order i.e. not the yank way as that confuses me, and with the month as a word not a number as that REALLY confuses me, then any old one will do but £100 has to be the limit. Oh, and an alarm would be handy. Let me know when you find one will you?

[Low_and_Slow]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">tells me the day, date and month, preferably in that order </font>

Do you really need the month on your watch?

just love it:

"so, how long have you been &lt;fill in activity&gt;"

"oh, [looks at watch] about 3 years"

:)


[This message has been edited by Low_and_Slow (edited 11 March 2001).]

[TyroPicard]

Best watch I ever saw had Mickey Mouse holding two tennis rackets for the hands, and a yellow tennis ball going round the outside every minute.
DanDare skipper borrowed his daughter's cos his watch was bust. Taxied this 1-11 out to go Olbia-MAN, full of well-heeled Costa Smerelda pax, and we could not move the flap lever..stuck solid it was. Back to terminal, chat with engineers via telex, all taking ages to sort out when Upper Class Twit (pax) wanders in and starts harrassing said ex-naval skipper.
"Been up for hours, can we go into town for breakfast etc etc"
RLB (for it was he) looks at MMwatch and says "well I think we might get away..er..er". UCT looks at watch and realises what he is up against .. the look on his face was a joy to see!
IF YOU SEE ONE BUY IT.
ToodlePip TP

[Dan Winterland]

I particularly liked the pair of TAG HUERs a mate of mine bought in the Chinese market in Kuala Lumpur. One had a date ring that only went up to 30, and the others hour hand dropped off the next day. Methinks perhaps they weren't real - especially as he paid ten quid for the pair.

As for the stopwatch on your wrist business while flying - I use the one on my Breitling Aerospace all the time as my aircraft doesn't have a built in stopwatch!

[Roadtrip]

Timex ZULU - Has everything you need including a light-up dial and only costs about $50. Mine's been ticking away for years. Forget the Brietlings unless you have money to burn.

[212man]

I've got a Lorus sport, £22 from Argos 4 years ago (same battery). Big white luminous numbers on a black face and with day and date (looks like the army G10). About once a month I rset it the 2-3 second it is out against the GPS. It's also water proof to 100m.

On the other hand, I'd quite like an Omega Speedmaster but it falls low on the list of priorities (the wife's, not mine!)

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Another day in paradise

[international hog driver]

Citizen WingMan VII, Silver & Black.

Finally one that has a light, the pilots watch for use day and Night.
IHD