Which 'Pilot' watch
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 293
Likes: 9
From: Utterly insignificant little blue-green planet, unregarded yellow sun, unfashionable end, western spiral arm, Milky Way
I like watches for the fact that they are amazingly complicated little machines, and sometimes very beautiful. All chronographs time flights equally well, whether they're mechanical or quartz. I just happen to like mechanical watches the best 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 594
Likes: 1
From: 32°55'22"S 151°46'56"E
I would say that most of the above is absolute tosh; the only watch you should consider for flying is a Breitling.
I couldn't even contemplate going flying without my Breitling, and I must admit that on the one occasion I did make a disastrous oversight and flew with a naked arm, I managed to end up 280nm in the opposite direction of my original destination and performed the most appalling landing you could imagine.
In the subsequent investigation with the AAIB, I later realised that I had spent the entire flight confusing the DI and chronometer with one another. The similarities were uncanny, but had I brought along my trusty watch, I would have quickly realised the serious mistake. The landing can easily be attributed to the fact that my Breitling, through several turns of the various dials (83 different actions to be precise) can calculate the correct glideslope and Vat. Without the critical feature, the result is self explanatory.
Finally, if I had been wearing my watch, I would have noticed when looking down to check the time that my vision was not as sharp as it normally is, and would have worn my prescription spectacles and subsequently would have identified the correct aircraft at my field of departure, rather then having to call the CFI and explain how he would need a truck to collect what remained of his beloved personal Piper Cub (which I now understand I'm only the second person fortunate to have ever flown it).
If you need any further information on this watch, please do not hesitate to ask.
I couldn't even contemplate going flying without my Breitling, and I must admit that on the one occasion I did make a disastrous oversight and flew with a naked arm, I managed to end up 280nm in the opposite direction of my original destination and performed the most appalling landing you could imagine.
In the subsequent investigation with the AAIB, I later realised that I had spent the entire flight confusing the DI and chronometer with one another. The similarities were uncanny, but had I brought along my trusty watch, I would have quickly realised the serious mistake. The landing can easily be attributed to the fact that my Breitling, through several turns of the various dials (83 different actions to be precise) can calculate the correct glideslope and Vat. Without the critical feature, the result is self explanatory.
Finally, if I had been wearing my watch, I would have noticed when looking down to check the time that my vision was not as sharp as it normally is, and would have worn my prescription spectacles and subsequently would have identified the correct aircraft at my field of departure, rather then having to call the CFI and explain how he would need a truck to collect what remained of his beloved personal Piper Cub (which I now understand I'm only the second person fortunate to have ever flown it).
If you need any further information on this watch, please do not hesitate to ask.
Official PPRuNe Chaplain
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 0
From: Witnesham, Suffolk
I've got a drawer full of watches 
Sad, me. I decided I have an analogue brain, so digital watches don't do it for me. I particularly like my KGB Officer's automatic bombproof "special".
I sold the Breitling - it never worked right anyway, and surprisingly I got a good price for it.
Nowadays I wear a simple Seiko with a nice, clear display and (slightly) luminous hands. There is a stop watch function in it, but waving a magnifying glass in front of the watch while flying in cloud doesn't instil confidence in passengers.
For instrument approaches, I have a very old wind-up sports-teacher-type Smiths stopwatch and a mount that hooks it to the yoke. I use it for IFR flight and for IMCR and IR tests. It has the advantage that the examiner can see it, too.
There was a clock on the panel of the Arrow, but it decided each day whether it would work or not, so I planned on "not".
Sad, me. I decided I have an analogue brain, so digital watches don't do it for me. I particularly like my KGB Officer's automatic bombproof "special".I sold the Breitling - it never worked right anyway, and surprisingly I got a good price for it.
Nowadays I wear a simple Seiko with a nice, clear display and (slightly) luminous hands. There is a stop watch function in it, but waving a magnifying glass in front of the watch while flying in cloud doesn't instil confidence in passengers.
For instrument approaches, I have a very old wind-up sports-teacher-type Smiths stopwatch and a mount that hooks it to the yoke. I use it for IFR flight and for IMCR and IR tests. It has the advantage that the examiner can see it, too.
There was a clock on the panel of the Arrow, but it decided each day whether it would work or not, so I planned on "not".
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 409
Likes: 3
From: The Home of the Gnomes
Seiko, Breitling or Christopher Ward depending on my mood, two of which were very generous gifts and each as reliable as the other - or el cheapo if I'm going somewhere where it may be requested that I part company with one of the above.
Wear what makes you feel happiest. The only proviso is that it is legible when you need it and can keep passable time. You are not planning a precision bomb run. Life is too short.
Wear what makes you feel happiest. The only proviso is that it is legible when you need it and can keep passable time. You are not planning a precision bomb run. Life is too short.
Last edited by Tay Cough; 5th August 2015 at 22:36. Reason: Sodding iPhones
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
But don't pretend that the Breitling makes you fly any better, or the Ferrari ensures that the groceries make it back from Sainsbury in better condition.
G
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: scotland
i use this when I’m flying, very accurate and never needs winding or running out of power.
http://cdn.instructables.com/FZ7/CIX...15LR.LARGE.jpg
or i use this
http://www.flli-consonni.com/F.lli%2...g/Art510_2.jpg
Fats
http://cdn.instructables.com/FZ7/CIX...15LR.LARGE.jpg
or i use this
http://www.flli-consonni.com/F.lli%2...g/Art510_2.jpg
Fats
Joined: Sep 2009
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 948
Likes: 63
From: N.YORKSHIRE
Whether you are one or not. Flashing a multi-function, cluttered face 'Pilot' watch at an airfield is going to suggest POSER to many. Much like the car number plates suggesting you're a pilot.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 293
Likes: 9
From: Utterly insignificant little blue-green planet, unregarded yellow sun, unfashionable end, western spiral arm, Milky Way
Funny, all the inferences being drawn from people's interest in watches. I like watches. Some of them are expensive. My Seamaster can withstand a depth of 300m. Will I ever use more than 30 of them? No. Do I care? Nope, because I like the watch. Doesn't have to be any more complicated than that.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 293
Likes: 9
From: Utterly insignificant little blue-green planet, unregarded yellow sun, unfashionable end, western spiral arm, Milky Way
No, I don't dive at all, other than down to about 10m every now and then when I'm swimming. That said, it has a clasp extension, so it fits around a dry- or wetsuit if the need ever should arise. I do use it when sailing, so it's close to water every now and then 
But hey, I guess the concept of wearing a watch because one likes it is an alien concept?
But hey, I guess the concept of wearing a watch because one likes it is an alien concept?
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: The Wild Blue Yonder
Watches, watches, watches
I like my watches, plain dress watches through to Skygod Blingmaster Pro, but despite a collection in double figures, the best sky timer I've used for VFR work is this:
ASA Digital Flight Timer
I've found most of the timers on watch faces too small to get all the info at a glance, and this timer does legs and total time at the same time, also has dual time, and is the cheapest by far!!
ASA Digital Flight Timer
I've found most of the timers on watch faces too small to get all the info at a glance, and this timer does legs and total time at the same time, also has dual time, and is the cheapest by far!!
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: The Wild Blue Yonder
Glum,
Pretty sure I only used 4 of them to complete my SEP(A) training (time, stopwatch, start/stop, and reset), only used "Light" when I added night to my licence.
Really want the new Garmin D2 Bravo though...
TPP
Pretty sure I only used 4 of them to complete my SEP(A) training (time, stopwatch, start/stop, and reset), only used "Light" when I added night to my licence.
Really want the new Garmin D2 Bravo though...
TPP
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 407
Likes: 9
From: UK
Real Pilots need proper watches. I recommend this one:
I believe it comes with 4-bar gold epaulettes.
I've never bothered with anything other than a normal watch for VFR, and I have a £5.99 Argos digital stopwatch for IMC. But I'm probably not a Real Pilot.
I believe it comes with 4-bar gold epaulettes.
I've never bothered with anything other than a normal watch for VFR, and I have a £5.99 Argos digital stopwatch for IMC. But I'm probably not a Real Pilot.
