Which 'Pilot' watch
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I was window shopping the watch stores here in Cologne today. I saw a few I liked. I saw a few whose asking price exceeds the value of both of my planes - together! But after all was said and done, I'm still happy with my basic one, with an easy to read face, which costs about the same as two hours of flying time.
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Instead they will just ask you the time and simply reading the watch proves exceptional acuity of vision.
And if you can work out your fuel requirement and calculate your denisity altitude using that-built in whizwheel (without using a microscope), you will get instant ATPL theory credit!
Casio G-Shock GW3500
Check out the Casio G-Shock GW3500 or GW2500.
It can display three time zones simultaneously. I have local time on the main dial, UTC on the LCD inset, and time back home on the small dial. When going on a trip, a few days before departure I set the small dial to the time of destination and start to adjust sleep patterns towards that time. Once in the air, a couple of button presses swaps the time between small dial and big dial, so I now have destination time on the big dial and home time on the small dial. UTC is permanently displayed (or can be toggled to date with a button touch).
Add to that, 200m waterproof, solar powered, and radio-time signalled controlled, it is a super time piece for a pilot.
The GW3500 can even take 12g, and even if it exceeds that, the hands can reset themselves automatically. The GW2500 has a lower g tolerance, and requires manual reset if exceeded - but I have not needed to do it yet.
It is virtually indestructible - I have had mine for six years or so and have hardly ever removed it from my wrist.
It can display three time zones simultaneously. I have local time on the main dial, UTC on the LCD inset, and time back home on the small dial. When going on a trip, a few days before departure I set the small dial to the time of destination and start to adjust sleep patterns towards that time. Once in the air, a couple of button presses swaps the time between small dial and big dial, so I now have destination time on the big dial and home time on the small dial. UTC is permanently displayed (or can be toggled to date with a button touch).
Add to that, 200m waterproof, solar powered, and radio-time signalled controlled, it is a super time piece for a pilot.
The GW3500 can even take 12g, and even if it exceeds that, the hands can reset themselves automatically. The GW2500 has a lower g tolerance, and requires manual reset if exceeded - but I have not needed to do it yet.
It is virtually indestructible - I have had mine for six years or so and have hardly ever removed it from my wrist.
Sensible watch. Silly price.
This Silliness extends into the Diving world. How about a Cartier Diver's watch at £19k.
http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/watches...g-watches-2015
This Silliness extends into the Diving world. How about a Cartier Diver's watch at £19k.http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/watches...g-watches-2015
Last edited by Flyingmac; 3rd Aug 2015 at 11:24.
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The most useful watch I ever wore in 32 years of flying was the Casio black plastic. I went through 3 of them, they did everything I needed, that is, told the time in 2 zones, woke me up and there was never any tension about leaving them in a hotel room.
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For a lot of timing functions I prefer to use the panel mounted equipment if installed, the garmin 330 transponder has excellent count up and down timers as do most GPS's including tanks switch reminders. The bonus of the panel mounted stuff is if it's set up right it gives you audio messages to your headset when the timers are up or tanks need switched
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I like watches and have many.
This is my pilots. Stupidly expensive today but not when I bought it.
Works at 7g and as I do aeros it makes sense.
For me it's perfect balance of form and function. Judging by prices for 2nd hand ones today I am not alone in thinking this.
Tutima | Military Commando II Chronograph Einsatzuhr | Titan | Uhren-Datenbank watchtime.net
This is my pilots. Stupidly expensive today but not when I bought it.
Works at 7g and as I do aeros it makes sense.
For me it's perfect balance of form and function. Judging by prices for 2nd hand ones today I am not alone in thinking this.
Tutima | Military Commando II Chronograph Einsatzuhr | Titan | Uhren-Datenbank watchtime.net
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As a bit of a watch afficionado, I have to recommend the Omega Speedmaster Professional. It's reliable, and has an interesting history as the Moon Watch, and it is one of the most legible watches I've comeback across, with its white markers on a black dial.
I got my current watch from Lidl 4 or 5 years ago. £7. Uncluttered black face with white markers and hands. Good quality leather strap.
When I recently took it in for a new battery, I commented to the guy in the shop that the cost of the battery was approaching the cost of the watch.
He lifted an £800 watch from a display and said, "Same movement".
When I recently took it in for a new battery, I commented to the guy in the shop that the cost of the battery was approaching the cost of the watch.
He lifted an £800 watch from a display and said, "Same movement".
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My main things about a watch are a clear face, reliable and it has to be automatic or solar powered (so the battery won't run out mid flight)
I use a Citizen Eco Drive Chronograph.
Easy to read, not expensive, solar powered, Stopwatch (not that I've ever used it, the aircraft always has a stopwatch), and a simple bezel to put the ATC slot time on to remind me
I use a Citizen Eco Drive Chronograph.
Easy to read, not expensive, solar powered, Stopwatch (not that I've ever used it, the aircraft always has a stopwatch), and a simple bezel to put the ATC slot time on to remind me
And, with care, still buy a perfectly good watch !
G
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 4th Aug 2015 at 09:35.
>>>Works at 7g and as I do aeros it makes sense.
Think about that for a moment.
The internal components of any wristwatch have a mass which is trivially small. At, even say, 20g so are any gravitational and inertial forces.
Plus, given the geometry, my wrist probably sees more gs going for a brisk walk than a member of The Blades does whilst flying a display.
Basically, a £5 watch from Argos will be just as able to take aerobatics - possibility better as it has a far lower mass.
G
Think about that for a moment.
The internal components of any wristwatch have a mass which is trivially small. At, even say, 20g so are any gravitational and inertial forces.
Plus, given the geometry, my wrist probably sees more gs going for a brisk walk than a member of The Blades does whilst flying a display.
Basically, a £5 watch from Argos will be just as able to take aerobatics - possibility better as it has a far lower mass.
G
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Why do something for your own pleasure or satisfaction when you can be cheap?
Hippopotomonstrosesquipidelian title
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Miserlou, the Superluminova on those watches is very good stuff, despite the silly name. It won't fade over the years, unlike tritium-based stuff.
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Fascinating thread All human vanity on show here. 
In 40 years of professional flying I only ever wanted a reliable watch that tells the time. It never occurred to me that a watch could be a status symbol ... but it seems for some the more useless and expensive and unreadable the watch ... the more status!
Ah don't get me started on 'pilot' sunglasses!
All human vanity on show here. In 40 years of professional flying I only ever wanted a reliable watch that tells the time. It never occurred to me that a watch could be a status symbol ... but it seems for some the more useless and expensive and unreadable the watch ... the more status!
Ah don't get me started on 'pilot' sunglasses!