Best Pilot watches ??
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I like the eye wateringly priced IWC one mentioned in that thread though this one is a similar idea.
Personally I have this Traser one, chosen partly for the great readability at night. Almost all watches with luminous hands work by absorbing light during the day and then they are fairly bright for about an hour or two when it gets dark. The Traser stays bright all the time.
Personally I have this Traser one, chosen partly for the great readability at night. Almost all watches with luminous hands work by absorbing light during the day and then they are fairly bright for about an hour or two when it gets dark. The Traser stays bright all the time.
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Hello!
One of the funny things about these "pilot watches" is that we are not allowed to use them at work
. At least in our company, when completing our navigation logs and logbooks, we have to take the time as displayed by the FMS, otherwise there could be a discrepancy between the technical documentation (downloaded from the FMS by the technical staff) and our operational logs...
So I really only need a watch when I wake up at night in the hotel room ... and over the years, I have found out that it needs to be luminous to be useful. Therefore, I mostly take along one of those two watches: A "retro style" LED watch (bought for 1 Euro off eBay) or one of these Traser "Swiss military" watches with its miraculous GTLS (gaseous tritium light source) hands and indexes (around 50 Euros off Ebay...). Often I will not even wear it but keep it in the overnight bag.
Greetings, Max
One of the funny things about these "pilot watches" is that we are not allowed to use them at work
. At least in our company, when completing our navigation logs and logbooks, we have to take the time as displayed by the FMS, otherwise there could be a discrepancy between the technical documentation (downloaded from the FMS by the technical staff) and our operational logs...So I really only need a watch when I wake up at night in the hotel room ... and over the years, I have found out that it needs to be luminous to be useful. Therefore, I mostly take along one of those two watches: A "retro style" LED watch (bought for 1 Euro off eBay) or one of these Traser "Swiss military" watches with its miraculous GTLS (gaseous tritium light source) hands and indexes (around 50 Euros off Ebay...). Often I will not even wear it but keep it in the overnight bag.
Greetings, Max
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Is it really true that titanium watches don't set off the airport personal scanners? That would be a plus - I have to take off my trouser belt each time but one can get Ti buckles 
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It all depends what they have it set at. And what the local rules are. If its set at max sensitivity fillings will set it off. And some have a random 1 in three to five setting to comply with DFT regulations on random searches.
Its not a very wise Idea to discuss what can and can't get through the detector on an open forum. But the word on the street is that Ti watches don't give as much hassle as Stainless ones. They still set the wand off if that gets used on you.
Its not a very wise Idea to discuss what can and can't get through the detector on an open forum. But the word on the street is that Ti watches don't give as much hassle as Stainless ones. They still set the wand off if that gets used on you.
If you want to tell the time any cheap digital does a splendid job
but........ digitals don't give you a trend if you are timing a 45 sec leg to a procedure turn, a large sweep second hand is essential, also white numbers on black face - as has been mentioned. And large, despite the jokes, turbulence makes it hard to read a dinkie little yuppie watch.
If you're only interested in VFR recreational flying, what's the problem ? Just get something that tells the time and forget all about making phone calls, or taking photographs, if you're seriously flying IFR I have yet to see an aeroplane that doesn't have a large clock with sweep second hand, built in right in front of you.
Don't buy something that requires you to carry the ' How to Use Manual 'around with you. KISS.
I bought my simple Seiko 30 years ago, I've just put a new battery in it. ( battery failure could be a problem I guess, but one usually gets a day or two's notice that all isn't well, it's never just stopped. )
Mind you, I did got through the 'watch' phase myself - bought a Glycine Airman once, hand only goes around once ever 24 hrs, like the Sun, so was good to keep on GMT, made it difficult to read quickly tho, 12 noon was at the bottom, in the 6 position. I soon got over it and it is ' somewhere' in my collection of rubbish around the house. KISS
This is all a repeat of a previous thread not long ago.
Last edited by ExSp33db1rd; 28th Mar 2009 at 22:14.
Ecohawk, radio controlled and solar powered
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...if you're seriously flying IFR I have yet to see an aeroplane that doesn't have a large clock with sweep second hand, built in right in front of you.
mad jock, you're taking the mick. Just look at those must-have features:
- 1/100 second chronograph - for those accurate turns (100th second accuracy essential for holds)
- 99 minute countdown timer - for slower turns
- water resistant to 200 metres - ideal for Hudson landings
- rotating slide rule bezel - no more hunting for the whizz wheel in flight
- World Time in 43 cities (even if most of the 43 cities you land in are in the same time zone)
Last edited by FREDAcheck; 29th Mar 2009 at 21:16.
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Citizen Skyhawk
The citizen is a great watch. Granted, it's a little more glamorous that the normal digi-plastic watches I normally wore, but it was a gift from my wife 3 years ago and I don't have a single complaint. I have the older, non-radio version. Can't say I've ever used the slide rule in a practical way, but handy in the bar. In my real life as a world traveling sales man, it can't be beat. I think the current price is half what my wife paid, but that's typical, isn't it?
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Try avoid making the same mistake as me. Parent bought me a Breitling for my 18th. Checking the oil on a pa28 2 weeks later and oops nicely scratched it on the cowling grr
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To be honest and not being nasty I can actually see why it is useful for a international salesman.
With all these type's of things is all personal preference and if you like it and can afford it why not.
As shown on that other thread something like this
is all that's required or its digital equivalent if that floats your boat.
As long as you don't have one of these to go with it I can't see a problem wearing a 5 quid special up to a a 5k special.
With all these type's of things is all personal preference and if you like it and can afford it why not.
As shown on that other thread something like this
is all that's required or its digital equivalent if that floats your boat.
As long as you don't have one of these to go with it I can't see a problem wearing a 5 quid special up to a a 5k special.
I can't even remember when I last flew in an aeroplane with a (working) analog clock.
What else is necessary.
.........The picture is a bit small, but I'm pretty sure there's an AI, DI and turn co-ordinator in there somewhere
One of my early Captains never carried a watch, the aircraft had a clock and he could dial up WWVH ( 5k 10k 15kand 20k Kcs. ) on the HF to get a correct time signal, and most hotel bedrooms had an alarm clock.
QED
BelArgUSA ........ we have similar tastes ! I kept my Glycine on GMT ( UTC is a French aberration ) and in later years, after retirement, used the sliderule to prove that the Supermarket were screwing me by charging more for the 'Large Economy' pack of soap powder than 2 regular packs !
Enjoy retirement - but don't, it sucks ! Poling a 747 around the World had to be the best job of all - except for the hassles with hotel room clerks ( and Mini-bar checkers when you are trying to sleep during the day ! )
Enjoy retirement - but don't, it sucks ! Poling a 747 around the World had to be the best job of all - except for the hassles with hotel room clerks ( and Mini-bar checkers when you are trying to sleep during the day ! )
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I haven`t read the whole thread (lazy I guess) but Ive had a Breitling Colt Automatic for years and love it. Very basic with a bezel and reads well at night. The only drawback is that it loses time if your not very active in the wrist department after a couple of days (leaving myself open there !!!!!) You could also just wind it up........Price isnt bad at about 1200-1400 quid.
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The only drawback is that it loses time if your not very active in the wrist department after a couple of days (leaving myself open there !!!!!)
I am sure their springs are wound fully tight.