Best Pilot watches ??
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I have a Fortis "Pilot Professional GMT" that I won in a competition in some mag or other a few years back.
Contrary to Captain Procedures, I've had no problems with it whatsoever, and am quite a fan of it, very uncluttered, and easy to read dial.
Only trouble I've had is finding a replacement bracelet strap for it, so now have it mounted on a NATO strap, which actually looks el groovyos!
Contrary to Captain Procedures, I've had no problems with it whatsoever, and am quite a fan of it, very uncluttered, and easy to read dial.
Only trouble I've had is finding a replacement bracelet strap for it, so now have it mounted on a NATO strap, which actually looks el groovyos!
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Anyone having problems getting straps etc for their expensive watches should look here.
http://www.watch-bands-straps-bracel...atchstrap.html
I got a Leather strap for my Breitling at about 30% of the price, it arrived the next day and fits and looks like the original. I suspect they are made by the same people.
ZA
http://www.watch-bands-straps-bracel...atchstrap.html
I got a Leather strap for my Breitling at about 30% of the price, it arrived the next day and fits and looks like the original. I suspect they are made by the same people.
ZA
Join Date: Aug 2005
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I bought myself a Breitling Navitimer a while back but not because I wanted it for flying.. Im afraid I have a number of hobbies - cars, watches and flying are the main three!
The Navitimer is very nice to look at but the built in whizz wheel requires excellent eyesight. The stopwatch facility is however very useful for timing cross country legs if im not cheating with GPS.
Steve
The Navitimer is very nice to look at but the built in whizz wheel requires excellent eyesight. The stopwatch facility is however very useful for timing cross country legs if im not cheating with GPS.
Steve
Join Date: Jan 2005
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I brought a new Rolex GMT II (originally designed in 1956 to aid pilots) years ago, and I could now sell it for £1,000 more than I paid for it.
I've had lots of watches in the past but this one will last the rest of my life.
Rans.
www.FlightForLife.co.uk
I've had lots of watches in the past but this one will last the rest of my life.
Rans.
www.FlightForLife.co.uk
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I have a Breitling Emergency.
A percentage of my flying hours are over water sep so it is a "nice to have".
I also use it as a stopwatch to check my flying time.
And it is also good for discussions in the pub.
A percentage of my flying hours are over water sep so it is a "nice to have".
I also use it as a stopwatch to check my flying time.
And it is also good for discussions in the pub.
Join Date: Jun 2003
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The Breitling Emergency is good fun but last time I looked at it, the transmitter emitted only on 121.50MHz.
This is a low power transmission (which one finds on all other beacons e.g. ELTs and EPIRBs too) intended to facilitate close range VDF, and works only if the rescue vehicle is within something like 10nm and is equipped with VDF.
So, if you simply ditched somewhere, the watch alone probably won't help you. An airliner flying nearby/overhead and listening to 121.50 might just pick it up and report it... One would have to do the whole works to make sure they know pretty well where you are going down.
If they emitted on 406MHz too that would be something else, but they would need a lot more power than they have to play with.
This is a low power transmission (which one finds on all other beacons e.g. ELTs and EPIRBs too) intended to facilitate close range VDF, and works only if the rescue vehicle is within something like 10nm and is equipped with VDF.
So, if you simply ditched somewhere, the watch alone probably won't help you. An airliner flying nearby/overhead and listening to 121.50 might just pick it up and report it... One would have to do the whole works to make sure they know pretty well where you are going down.
If they emitted on 406MHz too that would be something else, but they would need a lot more power than they have to play with.
Join Date: May 2001
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With my first paypacket (15yrs ago) I got my uncle to get me one of those RAF Seikos. Thought I lost it in a curry shop one winter several years ago. Found it a while back under a cupboard when moving house - still had the correct time to within a few seconds (except for BST!). Great watch.
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I bought a Breitling for its quality and purpose rather than an ego trip. I do hope you were not trying to suggest otherwise.
Spamcan
Beacon Outbound
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What a profound statement IRRenewal! Go on then Iceman, do tell us what DOES make an aviator?
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
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Originally Posted by Spamcan Defender
I would like to point out that there are FAR more 'bling' watches than the navitimer.
Originally Posted by Spamcan Defender
In actul fact mine has the leather strap which lessens the impact on the eye.
Originally Posted by Spamcan Defender
I bought a Breitling for its quality and purpose rather than an ego trip. I do hope you were not trying to suggest otherwise.
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Contrary to some posts here, I've got a Fortis Cosmonaut Automatic and I'm completely happy with it. It's built like a brick schiessehouse and has been completely reliable for the first 1 year+ I've owned it.
If you want a 'proper' watch rather than some overstated quartz tat I'd suggest looking at:
Damasko: OE to Eurofighter TPs, built like Darth Vader's jock strap and quite understated.
Sinn: Excellent German aviators' watches.
Glycine Combat series.
Omega Speedmaster Professional.
IWC Mk XV or XVI: Understated and so well made.
If you want a 'proper' watch rather than some overstated quartz tat I'd suggest looking at:
Damasko: OE to Eurofighter TPs, built like Darth Vader's jock strap and quite understated.
Sinn: Excellent German aviators' watches.
Glycine Combat series.
Omega Speedmaster Professional.
IWC Mk XV or XVI: Understated and so well made.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Join Date: Apr 2001
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To conclude. .....
To the original poster,buy a watch that you like mate that will serve your purpose and your budget.If your only going to use it for flying that's one thing but if its your main watch then you might have different needs and purchase accordingly. Only don't post pics of it on here as eharding might take exception and get the hump.
Spamcan
Last edited by Spamcan defender; 25th Oct 2007 at 11:31.
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eharding,
Your reply above is in the finest unprovoked insulting manner of a deeply resentful man with a large chip on his shoulder.
You are not nice, not nice at all.
Don’t bother to answer you have a well earned place on my ignore list.
White Bear.
Your reply above is in the finest unprovoked insulting manner of a deeply resentful man with a large chip on his shoulder.
You are not nice, not nice at all.
Don’t bother to answer you have a well earned place on my ignore list.
White Bear.
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Amongst all these Rolex, Omegas and Breitlings I must be the odd one out. I use a digital kitchen timer I bought for about £10 and about 5 years ago. I guess it is bling because it goes 'beep beep' when you should be about to go missed 
J.
J.
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
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Stik,
Wow - I go away for a day, and come back to find I'm off two Christmas card lists, have got the hump, bitter, and a chip on my shoulder.
Those that know me better would know chips don't last long in the vicinity.
My concern, I'll have you know, is purely altruistic, and stems from the sheer weight of some of these lumps of metal, and the effects they can have during the more spirited aspects of aviation - in a 6g manoeuvre, the wearer will have effectively strapped the thick end of a kilo of dead-weight to his lower arm - clearly a serious impediment to the safe operation of the controls. I would hope that the manufacturers recommend that the wearer should adopt a safety programme of development of the fore-arm muscles, presumably by indulging in periods of vigorous wrist-action throughout the day; I have no idea if Spamcan and White Bear partake of the more energetic types of aviation, but it seems that that have both adopted the wrist-exercise training with some gusto - that's it chaps, safety first.
Actually, one of the local Advanced crew - lets just call him A.Mole, from his habit of digging his way out of upturned Zlins - decided he'd had enough of his Rolex snagging the edge of the cockpit in the Extra when whanging the throttle about in the approved fashion, so took it off, zipped in into the chest-pocket of his trusty old flying suit. One decent push, and the thing ripped its way out, and after an afternoon's de-panelling we had to conclude it had made its way out of the gap at the back next to the rudder. Lucky it didn't get stuck in the elevator. These pilot watches can be killers in the wrong hands, I tell you. Best not to let them near an aeroplane, just to be on the safe side.
Wow - I go away for a day, and come back to find I'm off two Christmas card lists, have got the hump, bitter, and a chip on my shoulder.
Those that know me better would know chips don't last long in the vicinity.
My concern, I'll have you know, is purely altruistic, and stems from the sheer weight of some of these lumps of metal, and the effects they can have during the more spirited aspects of aviation - in a 6g manoeuvre, the wearer will have effectively strapped the thick end of a kilo of dead-weight to his lower arm - clearly a serious impediment to the safe operation of the controls. I would hope that the manufacturers recommend that the wearer should adopt a safety programme of development of the fore-arm muscles, presumably by indulging in periods of vigorous wrist-action throughout the day; I have no idea if Spamcan and White Bear partake of the more energetic types of aviation, but it seems that that have both adopted the wrist-exercise training with some gusto - that's it chaps, safety first.
Actually, one of the local Advanced crew - lets just call him A.Mole, from his habit of digging his way out of upturned Zlins - decided he'd had enough of his Rolex snagging the edge of the cockpit in the Extra when whanging the throttle about in the approved fashion, so took it off, zipped in into the chest-pocket of his trusty old flying suit. One decent push, and the thing ripped its way out, and after an afternoon's de-panelling we had to conclude it had made its way out of the gap at the back next to the rudder. Lucky it didn't get stuck in the elevator. These pilot watches can be killers in the wrong hands, I tell you. Best not to let them near an aeroplane, just to be on the safe side.
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Vedeneyev wrote
"With my first paypacket (15yrs ago) I got my uncle to get me one of those RAF Seikos. Thought I lost it in a curry shop one winter several years ago. Found it a while back under a cupboard when moving house - still had the correct time to within a few seconds (except for BST!). Great watch.".
I have to agree. After giving my RAF one back i went out and bought a civvy one, Adjust once a year normally only seconds. And the price is within in reach of anyone. Not like some "Aviation" watches.
"With my first paypacket (15yrs ago) I got my uncle to get me one of those RAF Seikos. Thought I lost it in a curry shop one winter several years ago. Found it a while back under a cupboard when moving house - still had the correct time to within a few seconds (except for BST!). Great watch.".
I have to agree. After giving my RAF one back i went out and bought a civvy one, Adjust once a year normally only seconds. And the price is within in reach of anyone. Not like some "Aviation" watches.