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A shiny Breitling for my cockpit me thinks

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A shiny Breitling for my cockpit me thinks

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Old 9th Feb 2006, 18:31
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A shiny Breitling for my cockpit me thinks

It has to be a Breitling but which one... too many to choose from.
Any ideas?
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Old 9th Feb 2006, 18:35
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Or why not be different and go for something that is a bit more individual - TAG do some cracking watches. That's what I'd go for personally if I had 3 grand to blow on a watch, but that's just me.
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Old 9th Feb 2006, 18:40
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Breitling do some 'special edition' watches - they have just done an interesting one for a well know helicopter Sqn based at a secret air station in East Oxfordshire - I think there are a couple available for re-sale....
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Old 9th Feb 2006, 19:45
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Breitling looks good but how far could you manage in E&E with that damn weight on your wrist, especially if it has a built in 121.5 tx?

I have a Casio titanium eco-drive (not batteries) only 97 gms and the MOST accurate watch I have ever owned. This bugger is on better than a second per year.

Stopwatch, 12 hour and 24 hour analogue, separate (but linked) digital, and even a nav slide rule with the conversions.
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Old 9th Feb 2006, 19:51
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ooo special addition

Special addition ones... wouldnt sell mine on if I had one.
Just how special are they?
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Old 9th Feb 2006, 20:09
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I have just recently purchased a Breitling for Bentley chronograph. The thing weighs a ton but keeps excellent time and the slide rule is pretty accurate.
You dont need a set of weights when you wear this beast !! The only drawback is that it has an automatic system so that if it is off your wrist for any length of time you have to set it all up again. I could of course purchase a watch winder but at what cost ??!!
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Old 9th Feb 2006, 20:14
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Not quite special enough to do your addition for you...


Limited production run featuring Sqn crest or other image in the 3 o'clock position, often at a decent price to those commissioning them.
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Old 9th Feb 2006, 20:21
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Forget the Breitling - when are we going to get an issue a watch that is actually useful? (Accurate, dual time - Z & Local, Alarm, day/date). For the fortune the issue Seiko costs, to tell you the time and possibly the date, the MOD could issue Casio watches with all of the above to everybody in the forces!
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Old 9th Feb 2006, 20:23
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Instead of mass produced watches I would suggest the hand made
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore collection.
http://www.audemarspiguet.com/en/tim...l?collection=1
Serious piece of kit IMHO. eBay has a number on auction.
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Old 9th Feb 2006, 20:44
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Maaaaaaaaaa

DONT get a freaking Aerospace, every Man and his dog has one... If you've got a big enough wrist the B1 and or 2 is a nice watch. I ran with the Transocean myself and it keeps about 1" a month
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Old 9th Feb 2006, 21:40
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B1

Pros

1. You get used to the size.
2. It's got 3 digital time zone displays - 'watch' (same as the analogue display) time, second time zone and a separate UTC display.
3. It has 2 (loud) alarms - one for each of the 2 digital time zones
4. (get this Aerospace owners) IT HAS A BACKLIGHT ... AND NO STUPID TIME BEEPER
5. If you get the black face and turn the display off, it's difficult to see the digital part at all... it looks like an analogue watch.
6. It has a circular slide rule around the edge - I sometimes even use it!!

(caveat to 4 above - I believe that a new aerospace is in the pipeline, which will have a backlight!)

Con

1. It works to Breitling time ... as they all do (though since a £150 service/battery replacement mine keeps near perfect time)

__
pi
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Old 9th Feb 2006, 21:50
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Pros

1. You get used to the size.
2. It's got 3 digital time zone displays - 'watch' (same as the analogue display) time, second time zone and a separate UTC display.
3. It has 2 (loud) alarms - one for each of the 2 digital time zones
4. (get this Aerospace owners) IT HAS A BACKLIGHT ... AND NO STUPID TIME BEEPER
5. If you get the black face and turn the display off, it's difficult to see the digital part at all... it looks like an analogue watch.
6. It has a circular slide rule around the edge - I sometimes even use it!!

(caveat to 4 above - I believe that a new aerospace is in the pipeline, which will have a backlight!)


Cons


1. Its a Breitling.
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Old 9th Feb 2006, 23:42
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Try a Revue Thommen, Titanium, chrono Quartz. I've tried Breitlings, Omegas, Rolex, Seiko, Casio etc. Revue Thommen make aircraft Instruments so their pedigree is sound. I bought one of their black-faced Quartz chronos about 6 months ago and I think it's an almost perfect aviator's watch. I especially like the 4th hand (red) which counts elapsed minutes when chrono timing. It is so easy to read and makes holds etc a little less frantic.
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Old 10th Feb 2006, 01:21
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I believe that a new aerospace is in the pipeline, which will have a backlight
My $27 Timex has a backlight
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Old 10th Feb 2006, 06:54
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Had my Aerospace for nearly 11 years now. One of the titanium face pre-italicised numerals, pre-'repetition minutes' versions, with the numerals in the same titanium nitride gold colour as the bezel pointers and strap highlights.

Only aspect I don't consider particularly good is the alarm volume which is too quiet for deaf old aircrew.

Whilst chatting with the Breitling folk at RIAT last year, they showed me a picture of the forthcoming backlight model - a worthwhile improvement.

If you do a google search, you can find some Aerospace models available secondhand in 'as new' condition for less than £1K.
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Old 10th Feb 2006, 07:10
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I thought the military frowned on bling watches, heres a nice one that does the job Damasko DC-66



or if you have a bit more to spend buy the IWC MKX Flieger Chronograph
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Old 10th Feb 2006, 07:13
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Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
Breitling looks good but how far could you manage in E&E with that damn weight on your wrist
Have you seen the size of the new Aircrew issue watch now made by Pulsar?
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Old 10th Feb 2006, 07:22
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Tiger Mate, no, but does it have a torch and radio in it ?

I like the other image, as well as deaf we also get blind and its a PITA having to put ones specs on just to see the little numbers.

Saw a brill watch stateside at Christmas, wish I had had the courage to ask the price. Only digital, back face, yellow numbers, Breitling size. Perfect. It might have had an alarm but I couldn't hear it.
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Old 10th Feb 2006, 13:04
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Here's a picture of me wearing that Damasko...


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Old 10th Feb 2006, 13:15
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Has anyone actually used a wrist watch in a cockpit, aside from checking the cockpit clock is correct?

The Breitling selling point of having more numbers on a dial than you can shake a stick at is humorous. How about their circular slide rules!? Maybe I don't have enough capacity!
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