hoshmaster Posted December 3, 2007 Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 Hey guys, Christmas is around the corner and I want to know you opinions about aviation watches. Are they actually used by helicopter pilots or are the jumps from one set down to another not enough of a distance to make it a worth while tool. Any opinions are great including what people have liked and disliked from the different brands out there, you know Im looking at getting a Brietling. HA HA, just kidding, maybe some day, thanks all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gomer Pylot Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Personally I buy any of several brands - Timex, Casio, Armitron, etc. My requirements are pretty simple: cheap, waterproof, and both analog and digital. Cheaper watches are at least as accurate as the expensive ones, and when (not if) I lose or break it, I don't cry too much. I know of no reason at all to buy 'aviation' or any other expensive watches. All I want from a watch is the correct time, the date is nice but not absolutely essential. I have other tools that do everything else much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparker Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I haven't even heard of Aviation watches. Sounds like an easy way to charge more for the same thing. Is time different when you're flying? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FUSE Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I haven't even heard of Aviation watches. Sounds like an easy way to charge more for the same thing. Is time different when you're flying? Nah, he's talking about the watches that have the E6B flight computers on them or maybe the ones with the built in ELT's. I personally thought about getting the one with the ELT just because the 22's I fly don't have them and on some of those cross countries I go on there is no one around... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-town Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Buy a watch that tells the time and looks decent. I had a good laugh when my students want to get all the latest inventions they see advertised in sporty's (an ATIS reminder????? Give me a break! It's a rotating wheel that turns to a letter of the alphabet!). A flight computer on your watch will require one hand to leave the collective and the other hand to turn the dial (Unless you have a third arm or a good force trim I don't think it it's going to be too practical). Helicopter pilots (especially in small, single engine, single pilot helicopters) shouldn't be making detailed calculations in-flight using calculators and graphs, etc. Practice calculating fuel burn and distance travelled in your head. It doesn't have to be accurate to two decimal points, just enough to be somewhat correct to get you where you need to go. Once you got two pilots in a ship, the SIC can do all the nug work while the PIC flies the ship. Leave the fancy doo-dads, slide rules, etc. to the pocket-protector wearing aviators more commonly known as "fixed-wing pilots." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FUSE Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Chi-town, What about the watches with the ETL's built in? I agree with everything you said, but I have to admit, the ETL could actually save your life. Other then the ETL thing they are just ordinary watches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-town Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Not a bad point, but all the aircraft I run out of the school have ELTs (Emergency Locator Transmitter). Also, don't put blind trust in that ELT over a filed flight plan and hopefully official or company tracked flight following. Someone is going to notice you are overdue much earlier than them tracking you on an ELT signal. Water bottles under your seat, a cell phone and a filed flight plan will have to do. Look at Steve Fossett who (probably?) had an ELT in his aircraft but NO flight plan. He was even rich enough to probably have an ELT on his wrist as well. Still no luck finding him. On the other hand, I would love an ETL (Effective Translational Lift) watch as you posted above. It sure would make those tricky photo shoots with a tail wind a lot easier! Just press a button and you're instantly in ETL! Just messing with you FUSE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delorean Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I wear a Breitling......worn it for 10 years. It doesn't have the E6B or anything--just the standard "tachymetre" for measuring speed, the three dial timer, and rotating bezel. The Emergency model (with the ELT) is a great idea, however, the watch is HUGE. It's literally like wearing a cell phone on your wrist. Besides, 121.5 monitoring is going away in early 2009. I doubt anyone actually uses anything more than the time and timer functions, but some of the other functions are cool. Just get something that is easy to read day and night, that's the main thing. After that, it's all about your fashion tastes. Here's what I use in the helicopter. Velcro'd it above the Garmin. Big numbers, counts up/down, beeps.....wish it lit up though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelFire_91 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 This is the one I have, Only I have a black leather band on it. I don't use the E6b really ever, I do use the stop watch quite a bit, and it's really nice to be able to change the hours with out messing up the minuets, if you consistently fly across time zones. I got it as a Christmas present a while ago, and didn't think I would wear it that much. But actually I kind of like it. Not because it's a "Cool" pilot watch, but because it's a little nicer watch I can wear with dress cloths, but with the leather band I can wear it with normal everday clothes also and it fits. I wouldn't trade it for anything, (Well it's got sentimental value too of course). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linc Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I used to swear by Casio (I love that repeating countdown timer feature), but I've since gone to being a believer in the old 1960-70s marketing slogan, "Timex. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking." Or is that beeping? Either way, I need a watch to last longer than the first time I bang it against something (which is often), and I can't afford to have it falling apart on me for just wearing it everyday. Since I sweat a lot, I require a band that isn't going to stink to high heaven, so nylon watchbands are out. Also, I don't like the flex bands, and I've had more than one plastic band rip apart on me. So, I customize my watch by spending another $5-7 for a style of band I like. My current watch is about 2 or 3 years old, which means it has lasted quite a bit, and I've replaced the battery in it only once, so far. The face is scratched all over but still readable and the band is still in once piece. It's probably due for overhaul, but I tend to drive these things into the ground; they're not suitable for children to learn time on when I'm done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FUSE Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 On the other hand, I would love an ETL (Effective Translational Lift) watch as you posted above. It sure would make those tricky photo shoots with a tail wind a lot easier! Just press a button and you're instantly in ETL! Just messing with you FUSE. LOL, good catch... I agree with ya as well, everything you said should be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FUSE Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Oh guess I should say what watch I have.... I my self love Timex as well. I have had a Timex Expedition Indiglo watch, the same one, for the last 13 years. Only replaced the battery one time, about a year ago. Replaced the band twice, but the watch keeps on ticking. I love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Hey guys, Christmas is around the corner and I want to know you opinions about aviation watches. Are they actually used by helicopter pilots or are the jumps from one set down to another not enough of a distance to make it a worth while tool. Any opinions are great including what people have liked and disliked from the different brands out there, you know Im looking at getting a Brietling. HA HA, just kidding, maybe some day, thanks all. I've had a couple fancy aviator watches. I might even buy another someday, but I value function and use an ugly watch that does exactly what I need it to do- good, readable display; illumination that I can set to activate when I want; local and UTC displays; stopwatch and repeating countdown timer; vibrating alarms, usable in the cockpit. Oh yeah, it's cheap and really, really durable. If I trash it, it's no biggie, unlike the high priced Swiss thing I had, or even a Seiko.Yes, it's U-G-L-Y!!! But, in a flight suit, with or without a helmet, I'm not very GQ anyhow... http://www.globalassistive.peachhost.com/ct_PRvl300ss.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volition Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 True, the ELT watch interest me, but 121.5 monitoring is going away in 2009, that would be a waste of money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparker Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 This is the one I have, No offense, but I'd rather spend that money and put it toward a Bose.... Jeesh. I don't even own a watch. I use my cell phone, it's fancy with time on the front and a calendar inside and everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helihead Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 (edited) OK Edited December 9, 2008 by Helihead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helihead Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I meant 5 or 6- your time...opps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious T Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 http://www.ewatches.com/Citizen/JR3090-58L.html This is the watch I have... asked for it last Christmas...didn't think the girl would get it but did? would have rather had a couple hours of flight time instead. I think it was close to 400 dollar bills with a extended warranty from a jewelry place. But anyway I have it and I love the look but its not practical at all. The Instruction manual is 80 pages long thats just for english and 236 pages with the spanish and whatever. It is a very nice watch with some nice features, can change to any world time digitally with out changing your analog current time. Tell you ZULU too with out changing. Press a button to have daylight savings on and off so it calculates ZULU right. So basically it tells you your time analog, ZULU, 24 Hour time all at the same time with the three inner hands, and with the press of a button it can switch to any time zones. It has date month and day digitally with a turn of the crown, It runs OFF LIGHT NO BATTERY, and it has power save option you can turn on and off, the analog hands will stop after 1 hour of total darkness, but still keeps digital time. Then when it is exposed to light the hands spin around like 15 times to catch up kinnda neat. With powersave on It will stay charge for like 6 months after 3 minutes in actual sunlight or 2.5 hours in an office. This has never lost power or anything,,,, don't think it ever will. three world time alarms, never used them each has a different beep pattern, stop watch count down timer 99 minutes chronograph and timer down to 1/100th of a second. E6B never have used it in flight...it seems like it is accurate but its so small to read and you need two hands.... better off just using a big one if you do use one. have used it to do division and multiplication with big numbers... then people are how did you figure that out in your head... and you can say ohh I am just really smart NOT... Nice clasp, very well built Digital power indicator to tell if you need to expose it to light water resits to 330 FEET havent tryed that don't think i am going to . seems very durable. could golf with it and whatever and to worry about it flying off. has blue angles emblem on back of watch... I know its a fixed wing watch but hey you asked for aviator watches not helicopter watches soooSo overall review.. PROs NEVER NEEDS A BATTERY, you don't have to worry about getting a little water on it, it looks nice can where it casual or dressed up? can check zulu time with out changing your current time, light weight... I do get a lot of Comlements on it, never thought I would. CONS, not to many... have to have wrist band adjusted by pro. takes like 45 minutes to initially set up and understand, Not very practical for actual flight, (but does tell you fule burn, airspeed, rate of climb ect..if you really need it with E6B--but dont think it does density altitude and thoes types just the slide rule parts) only use a few features maybe. Happy holidays, good luck If you have extra money to burn i guess this would be a watch to spend it on.. If you just want a watch, get something at wal-mart and save your money..not sure if they have "aviator watches". this watch has a few feature that you may use, and most are things you can do in your head like checking the zulu time... ohh gee what is 5or6+ your actual time . is that worth an extra 250or 300$.. Just got this watch but the all titanium version, found it online at chron.com for $240 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legal Eagle Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 After years and years of dithering, I finally bit the bullet bought the watch I really wanted. It cost way too much ($425), but I haven't once regretted it. The requirements were: Accurate (but preferably not battery powered), display local time + GMT (makes it easier flight planning), waterproof enough for shallow SCUBA, and rugged. I bought it in 1974 and it's still all of those things. The Rolex GMT Master. It has taken a couple of incredible tumbles to the ramp from the top of the rotor system during preflight (latch caught on a pitch change link, safety wire or something), and it's never missed a beat. If there's a downside, it's that I wouldn't be happy today with anything else, but if I lost it I couldn't afford to replace it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC120AV8R Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Just got this watch but the all titanium version, found it online at chron.com for $240 I have the Ti version of this watch too. I will never use the E6B function, but it just adds to the "cool factor". I actually only wear this watch on accasion. My daily watch for "flight use" is a Casio. I don't have to worry about beating it up and is syncs with the atomic clock, so it is always spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linc Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Legal, I just did a price check on that GMT Master of yours. Holy $h@#$^@#!!! May you never lose it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CYGNUS I Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I got this one back in august from a japanese dealer.http://japwatches.wordpress.com/2007/06/18...and-pmp56-2932/Very nice watch a little expensive but nice $650.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelFire_91 Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 No offense, but I'd rather spend that money and put it toward a Bose.... Jeesh. I don't even own a watch. I use my cell phone, it's fancy with time on the front and a calendar inside and everything. None taken, Like I said I got it as a present, it also wasn't as much as the website says. I think she got it for around $450. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helihead Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Just got this watch but the all titanium version, found it online at chron.com for $240 I am glad I didn't pay for it then...ha I have seen them from 240 now all the way to 525 at a dealer store... youcan get it at like JC penny or macys or even sears for 375-390$ with warranty So does the 240$ include lifetime warranty, three year warrant? That picture was way bigger than I wanted it to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChprPlt Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 I just got this one two days ago. The price was right at $99 and it has Zulu time which is a requirement for me. It's not my favorite looking watch but does the job. http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?DI...24&DETAIL=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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