Aircrew watches
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Aircrew watches
Hi there!
I collect military watches (hence the user name!), Can any of the serving members explain one or two things for me re the watches.
The RAF use two types of watches chronos and the normal G10 types. What is the current type of chrono in use now after the second generation of Seiko is no longer manufactured. I hear it is the Pulsar chrono. Is this correct please? If so are they as good as the Seikos were?
Also is the CWC G10 2000 issue still used? (It has a date function and no battery hatch on the back compared to the Army model)
Who gets what type of watch? Pilots and navs the chronos ? And rearcrew the G10?
Final question is do you get to keep the watches upon completion of aircrew training or are they issued on need to have bases and then returned to stores when the sortie is completed?
Sorry about the boring questions but I wanted to know a little more about the watches I have collected over the years and their uses.
Many thanks
I collect military watches (hence the user name!), Can any of the serving members explain one or two things for me re the watches.
The RAF use two types of watches chronos and the normal G10 types. What is the current type of chrono in use now after the second generation of Seiko is no longer manufactured. I hear it is the Pulsar chrono. Is this correct please? If so are they as good as the Seikos were?
Also is the CWC G10 2000 issue still used? (It has a date function and no battery hatch on the back compared to the Army model)
Who gets what type of watch? Pilots and navs the chronos ? And rearcrew the G10?
Final question is do you get to keep the watches upon completion of aircrew training or are they issued on need to have bases and then returned to stores when the sortie is completed?
Sorry about the boring questions but I wanted to know a little more about the watches I have collected over the years and their uses.
Many thanks
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
<<Final question is do you get to keep the watches upon completion of aircrew training or are they issued on need to have bases and then returned to stores when the sortie is completed?>>
The bog standard watch is usually personal issue. If the watch is intended as special to type then it should be handed in at the departure stores and a new one drawn at the arrival one. This was the case when only certain navigators were entitled to chronographs.
For what its worth I never found a use for the stop watch <g>.
The bog standard watch is usually personal issue. If the watch is intended as special to type then it should be handed in at the departure stores and a new one drawn at the arrival one. This was the case when only certain navigators were entitled to chronographs.
For what its worth I never found a use for the stop watch <g>.
AAC units would issue the G1098 watch to groundcrew and the chronograph to aircrew, as a local issue, to be returned on posting out of the unit.
IIRC, the G1098 watches tended to go to the Driver/Signallers, and the SQMS's Dog.
The only real advantage I found to having an issued watch was not worrying too much if it quit on me.
IIRC, the G1098 watches tended to go to the Driver/Signallers, and the SQMS's Dog.
The only real advantage I found to having an issued watch was not worrying too much if it quit on me.
Last edited by diginagain; 6th May 2006 at 00:50.
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The Pulsar watches are quite good time keepers, although you have to know a very nice man in tech stores to get one if your a pilot. The old pilots watches were good for playing conkers with though. Mine was a 2 er before it lost its will to survive.
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Very many thanks for the replies.So which is the current issue chrono please? Pulsar? I gather the Seiko chrono are only old tock now until they run out of them.
Is the CWC G10 2000 still used. I have seen a Puma pilot wearing one so I gather the storeman did not like him enough to get a chrono issued?
Is the CWC G10 2000 still used. I have seen a Puma pilot wearing one so I gather the storeman did not like him enough to get a chrono issued?
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Apache aircrew are now issued a very smart new all singing all dancing watch which will be ripped off your arm the moment you stop flying the beast. Bummer huh!
I now have a breitling as back up to my Apache aircrew issue watch.
If it breaks I will sign for another. Joy.
FLY ARMY
I now have a breitling as back up to my Apache aircrew issue watch.
If it breaks I will sign for another. Joy.
FLY ARMY
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A colleague's Breitling broke of its own accord whilst over Baghdad during GW2 - Bugger!.
Such reliability is not mentioned in their glossy brochure. - I wonder why?
Regardless, Breitling do a good beer induced rent-a-crowd aircrew gathering tent at airshows though.
Such reliability is not mentioned in their glossy brochure. - I wonder why?
Regardless, Breitling do a good beer induced rent-a-crowd aircrew gathering tent at airshows though.
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I still use the Casio given to stick in the earduffs during GW1 - it's on No2 battery, but is far more reliable than anything else the Queen has given me (bar the headover I suppose!). Pity I never got any insts, so have no idea about the more exotic lap functions etc - what ever they might be for?
I do prefer using issue watches for conkers - using Breitlings would be far too expensive - but it would be interesting to see how tough they really are - any of you chinless, private-income types out there like to try it and report back?
I do prefer using issue watches for conkers - using Breitlings would be far too expensive - but it would be interesting to see how tough they really are - any of you chinless, private-income types out there like to try it and report back?
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Originally Posted by Zoom
I have a funny feeling that Pulsar is actually a Seiko brand. At least that's the info I got down at good old Mr H Samuel's fine jewellery emporium.
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Yet again thanks for the replies. Yes Pulsar is like you said the budget version of Seiko all one big company.
So can anyone tell me what are the current issue chrono and G10 watches please and who wears what?
Thanks again
So can anyone tell me what are the current issue chrono and G10 watches please and who wears what?
Thanks again
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Phoney Tony - it's not just the RAF that takes the watch off you after years of loyal service! Aircrew in the RN and the Army have the same problem! Fortunatley I put some of my gratuity to good use and bought myself the trusty Breitling Chronometre Aerospace which is better than anything I chose to wear on my wrist with an arrow on it! Some of the older aircrew military watches were only good for playing conkers in the bar!
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Saw a link to these posted on another watch thread a while back. Anyone got one?
http://www.wernersflyingwatches.com
http://www.wernersflyingwatches.com
For heavens sake........
put Tick Tock out of his misery and answer the flipping question.
Sadly, I can't as I left over a year ago and my int would be out-of-date (was allowed to keep my watch) - Used to request the pulsar/seiko model date-only as it was more reliable than the seiko chrono that I was originally issued as an ab-initio (some regulation about heli pilots needing a stop-watch as they didn't have a nav at the time - single-pilot etc and, like Pontius, I never had an aviation-related requirement for the stopwatch
Sadly, I can't as I left over a year ago and my int would be out-of-date (was allowed to keep my watch) - Used to request the pulsar/seiko model date-only as it was more reliable than the seiko chrono that I was originally issued as an ab-initio (some regulation about heli pilots needing a stop-watch as they didn't have a nav at the time - single-pilot etc and, like Pontius, I never had an aviation-related requirement for the stopwatch
OK, here we go...
Current issue for pilots is the Pulsar, non chrono, "G10" cheapo-copy. It's rubbish. The second hand on mine ticks between the indices and it loses seconds and needs hacking every few days.
Pilots used to get issued the CWC G10 until a few years ago, so you might still see it around. Much better quality. Buy one cheap here: http://www.babcockdisposals.co.uk/St...ches/Clocks%22
Navs get a chrono. It used to be the Seiko (with the "tricompax" layout) and I think it stores still have these kicking around. Not seen many Pulsar equivalents about.
Navy pilots and observers get the Seiko chrono with the subdials at 12,6 and 9 (different to the RAF Seikos).
Current issue for pilots is the Pulsar, non chrono, "G10" cheapo-copy. It's rubbish. The second hand on mine ticks between the indices and it loses seconds and needs hacking every few days.
Pilots used to get issued the CWC G10 until a few years ago, so you might still see it around. Much better quality. Buy one cheap here: http://www.babcockdisposals.co.uk/St...ches/Clocks%22
Navs get a chrono. It used to be the Seiko (with the "tricompax" layout) and I think it stores still have these kicking around. Not seen many Pulsar equivalents about.
Navy pilots and observers get the Seiko chrono with the subdials at 12,6 and 9 (different to the RAF Seikos).
Last edited by VigilantPilot; 10th May 2006 at 16:50.
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Originally Posted by I.P Stop
Apache aircrew are now issued a very smart new all singing all dancing watch which will be ripped off your arm the moment you stop flying the beast. Bummer huh!
I now have a breitling as back up to my Apache aircrew issue watch.
If it breaks I will sign for another. Joy. FLY ARMY
I now have a breitling as back up to my Apache aircrew issue watch.
If it breaks I will sign for another. Joy.
FLY ARMYWhich Breitling shall I wear today
