Watch for Pilots - what function U ever use?

[Whirlygig]

Watches that don't need batteries have been around for years!

I can't wear quartz movement watches; only mechanical watches so it somewhat limits me to Oris and Rolex!

I use my watch when flying to note down take-off and landing time and there's a stop-watch in the cockpit. Not quite sure what the practical use of the other gizmos is.

Cheers

Whirls

[helopat]

Being the good citizen I am, I wear a citizen watch...hell, it tells time (analog) and has a digital window which shows UTC and a few other time zone local times, but generally just the basic bits for me.

The USN were really big on G-SHOCK watches when I was there...really gi-normous...was I compensating for a deficiency? Not sure, but if I'd ever been in a high G impact, my bloody arm would've been ripped off due to the sheer mass of the darned thing.

Geez I feel better being out of the G-SHOCK closet.

HeloPat

[Teefor Gage]

Don't need a watch - when flying that's the cojo's job!!
When I am at home, that's the wife's job

[Lightning_Boy]

I have a Breitling Navitimer. Could never use a CRP-5 so no chance with this thing. But hey, I normally have the biggest watch in the room which is what being a pilot is all about!!!

LB

[rotorboater]

some of the guys doing cattle work in Aus must use the electric watches, but after the batteries run out the R22 gets lots more use for the same hours!

[John Eacott]

Gadgets for telling the time:

In the cockpit

Mobile phone (in the hands free cradle, best and easiest to read)
Digital clock
GPS
Hourly time pips on the radio

In the office

Mobile phone
Office phone display
Computer display
Hourly time pips on the radio

What do you need a watch for?

Oh, a very old Tag, on a grotty velcro strap

[verticalhold]

Ok Breitling B2. The mechanical one with the slide rule bezel. Set the bezel for the fuel burn for the aircraft I am flying and then read off all the answers to the utterly absurd plog they make us fill in here.

Absolutely love the watch and it has the added benefit that a lot of people with no interest in aviation wouldn't know what its for.

[SASless]

Rolex GMT MasterII works just fine for flying.

Instead of time ticks on the map....I use mileage. Mileage marks correlate to GPS dist to run data for the waypoint being used to nav to/from. Makes finding your actual location on the map much easier.

[ShyTorque]

Citizen Titanium Eco-drive. It shows the time and the date, that's all I need.

Was given a Breitling Aviator Chronometric watch to fly with but I actually prefer the Citizen. It's smaller and more discreet but just as accurate and it has a proper second hand. It cost about 9% of the cost of the Breitling.

The Breitling's bezel annoyingly catches and pulls threads out of my jacket sleeve.

[Flingwing207]

I have a digital Suunto with big numbers set to 24-hour time, and the second time zone set to Zulu. It has a sweep second hand presentation.

Helicopter has a timer for startup/shutdown and 15-minute checks.

[B Sousa]

Rolex GMT Master BY FAR the best.....................for getting a conversation going at Pubs with the opposite ones. Maximum Bling Bling.
As to flying who cares, we can check the time when we get there.

[BlenderPilot]

I have a high techonolgy Swatch that I regularly use as protection to smash my hand against doors and furniture.

[GLSNightPilot]

For years, I used a Timex with digital and analog display, and date display. I need the date so I can remember whether it's an even or odd day, and so know which engine to start first. I need an analog display for calculating ETA without having to do arithmetic. I used to use the digital time for recording takeoff and landing time, but I no longer need that, because the EFB does it automagically. Sometimes. If it works. It often doesn't. If not, then I call and get the times from the comm center's computer. These days I use a Seiko Kinetic, which doesn't require a battery. It has a basic analog display and shows the date, so it's all I need. I only bought it because I found it cheap on a store closing sale, and I don't have to worry about buying new batteries and changing them. In flight, there is a clock with stopwatch functions on the dash, plus the GPS, plus the EFB which does all sorts of calculations, so I rarely need a watch in flight, much less all the other functions.

[Devil 49]

VibraLITE3

Two time displays (selectable 12/24 hour formats) with day and date- I set the primary for Zulu and secondary as local;
Two alarms with a choice of alerts- flashing light, vibration, a beeper, or combination;
A repeating countdown timer;
A stopwatch with the usual split/lap, etc.;
And illumination that can be activated by movement.
I fly in a large fleet, the helo's clocks can be and are all over the panel, while my watch is always on my right wrist.
Except that it's cheap and plain- well, to be truthful it's ugly- it's the perfect pilot watch. The alarm works to get me quietly up for those oh-dark thirty departures without disturbing the family, and works well in the cockpit, various reminders and time monitoring functions.

http://www.globalassistive.peachhost..._PRvl300ss.htm

[ron-powell]

SAS and BSousa:

1976 Rolex GMT Master. Turned 30 in May. Looses about 15 seconds a month. Not too bad.

Won't own anything else.

Ron Powell

[SirVivr]

Currently a Breitling Aerospace. However, it takes on water and quits everytime I get in a pool. Had it "repaired" numerous times with the same result. Probably because I pushed the timer when I was doing a deep dive. Expressly told NOT TO DO in the Manual. Which pilot reads manuals? Anyways, I now get the batteries replaced in a small shop in Porntip Plaza, Bangkok. Saves $ 250 each time the watch needs servicing. The first time the shop owner printed on the inside of the cover something in Thai. He smiled and said, " One year guarentee." I think my warrenty may be void. Looks like I must go visit Izzy each year for a proper time hack.

Sold my real GMT Master when I realized it couldn't be worn in the places I like to frequent.

Used to wear my Lolex GMT to maybe impress the local female co-pilots. Band kepy breaking.

Timex and aircraft clocks for billing.

Chas A

[SASless]

Chas....you and Izzy are probably drinking Pile Drivers now instead of the Screw Drivers from the old days. For the Not Knowing....that is prune juice and vodka with a Geritol Chaser !

[Fun Police]

timex ironman because i am a cheap git and black sabbath tunes make me happy.

[jeffrey1]

Bought a Citizen Skyhawk. Wore it around awhile until I realized noone cared if I was a pilot with a big watch and the E6B was too small to do anything with anyway.
No longer wear a watch and get my lift times from the timer on my kneeboard.

[malabo]

Something easy to read at night that gives GMT time. I think at the top and bottom you have the Rolex GMT/Explorer II (big bucks) or Steinhart GMT Ocean 1 ($540) - for you guys that want to have a "no regret" night at the Bush Bar. I've heard the Omega GMT is a nice too, priced somewhere in-between.

I use the GMT function and date calendar - saves the look of befuddlement from the fire-guard when you start the wrong engine that day.

20 years ago all the Europeans had Breitlings and all the Americans had Rolex. My Breitling Navitimer had one of those slide-rule thingies that my eyes stopped being able to read about the same time I was able to afford one.

Don't get a leather band, they rot out in short order in the tropics. I've always had metal, but have seen some pilots with the black rubber diver strap. Maybe someone can post how comfortable those are.

Any other functions are triplicated on the average instrument panel these days, especially with a modern GPS/FMS.

Malabo