I'm curious to see what other "aviation types" wear on their wrists. I have a nice Movado that I got for my first anniversary but with no sweeping second hand I was in the market for a cool pilot watch. I looked at the obvious - Citizen and Seiko, but thought these would be a "step down" from Movado. So my brother - with his Rolex - suggested Breitling. I now have a B-1.
The clincher for me was when I was taking a ground school class and was speaking to the instructor during a break. I was in the watch market at the time and asked him about his watch - a "standard" pilot watch in the same class as a Seiko. He was happy with it but his comment locked it for me. He had gone through a series of interviews for a job with an airline and was literally just waiting for the call to advise him that he'd been hired. When discussing his watch he said he liked it... "... but when I get the call I'm getting a B-1!" "I'm sorry, did you say a B-1?" I asked. "Yeah, it's a high-end watch from Breitling. Every pilot's dream watch." Obviously, that's one man's opinion but the way the dialog took shape was eerie, and at that moment I knew the B-1 was for me.
I'd love to hear comments from others.
Anthony
All Comments
I use a Casio WaveCeptor. Price was approx $100 (you can buy versions of it cheaper now).
Advantages:
1) Solar powered with a reserve that lasts WEEKS even in darkness
2) An easily activated Indiglo backlight
3) Multiple Time Zones for anywhere in the world
4) Syncronizes with the atomic clock (in the USA it uses the clock in Fort Collins, Colorado primarily), you can set it to syncronize for other frequencies however
5) Even if it fails to syncronize (which the watch is set to do at 2, 4, and 6 AM, then takes the average of the three for even greater precision), you have digital watch accuracy.
6) If you do manage to get the watch time screwed up, you can manually force it to syncronize, giving you your EXACT time (and date) to the microsecond (though only whole seconds are shown).
7) Countdown and Countup timers
8) Data functions that let you program in text/numbers. I haven't availed myself of this feature on the watch, but it could be used for your home airport frequencies, etc.
9) Once fully charged (when out of the box this takes about 10 to 20 minutes of exposure to sunlight, at least for my model), it's reserve capacity has never been a problem.
10) IF (and that's a big IF if you are wearing the watch regularly) the reserve power dwindles to a very low point (like if you kept the watch in total darkness for a week or more), it does a progressive function disablement, but still keeps time. It turns off non-critical functions of the display first. Once the solar cells get the power charged up, functions come back.
I gave my father one of these watches because I loved mine so much. He's always amazed when I visit him in Boulder, Colorado, that we have the exact same time right to the second (and I live in St. Louis, Missouri).
It's not a Breitling, or a Movado, but it keeps time like no other watch I've ever owned, and it does so without my having to set it or worry about it.
Hmmm... maybe I should invest in Casio stock!! (I promise I don't own any... this recommendation is purely from a happy, non-investor, customer).
I am curious what you guys, especially you pros, actually
do with those fancy aviator watches (besides try to one-up
each other). Do you use the circular slide rule for enroute calculations? Are you timing waypoints with your chronometer?
I fly with a Timex Ironman digital which cost me $17. It keeps excellent time, has countdown timer with alarm (for fuel tanks), elapsed time chronometer, and two time zones, the second of which I keep on Zulu time. My Skylane has a digital timer for approaches. In the rare case I had to do some kind of time/speed/distance/fuel calculation, I have and E6B and a calculator in my flight bag. Not to mention that both my handheld and panel GPS will do ETAs, fuel calculations, etc.
I have the Citizen Skyhawk in titanium. I love the look and feel of the titanium, maybe just because it's a bit different. I like that it will never need a battery. I like that it shows the local time, UTC, and another function (like a third time zone, or the date) all at the same time. I really like that when I'm travelling between time zones I can just tell the watch to change time zones without actually resetting anything. The hour hand just shifts around the correct number of time zones while the minute and second hands keep on ticking along.
And, to answer today's anonymous poster, I do use the circular calculator for en-route calculations from time to time. It's just easier than pulling out another calculator.
One thing mine does not have, though, that I really wish it had, is a light. Since the watch's first charge, I've never seen the charge indicator go below a full three bars. This leads me to believe that there would be enough reserve power to power a backlight occasionally, so I don't know why they didn't include one. Oh well, nothing is perfect. (Althought that Casio WaveCeptor sounds like it's close. But then maybe it's all function with an ugly form? I don't know, I haven't seen one.)
Chad
I have a Seiko, Rolex, Breitling (crosswind)and a few others I rarely or never wear.
The Rolex (I am repeatedly told)is the best investment, "you will always get you money back or more". It broke 6 months after I bought it (however it was fixed quickly at no charge). It seems that everyone has one and I rarely wear it.
The Breitling is my favorite. It has the small GMT watch on the band which is great because you never have to figure out zulu time when you file you flight plan (in various areas around the country). It is reliable and attractive.
The Seiko is the best watch for the money you can find. They keep great time are priced fairly and never break. The aviation series are so good looking that we bought one for one of our senior pilots and he loves it and wears it every day.
Date: 12/28/2004 7:25:26 PM
Author:Anthony Nalli
'... but when I get the call I'm getting a B-1!' 'I'm sorry, did you say a B-1?' I asked. 'Yeah, it's a high-end watch from Breitling. Every pilot's dream watch.' Obviously, that's one man's opinion but the way the dialog took shape was eerie, and at that moment I knew the B-1 was for me.
I'd love to hear comments from others.
Anthony
Wow ! You had to have the watch even before seeing it ! I wonder if it was the watch you wanted, or to just try to look good ? Buying another mans dream, how nice...man your a jerk.
If I told that to one of my students....then they came in the next week wearing the watch I've been waiting a long time to buy, and celebrate my success of finally realizing a dream...let's just say he'd be cleaning the puke off himself after the next upper-airwork lesson we had.
-=0=LiR=0=-
Date: 3/28/2005 12:19:41 AM
Author: LostinRotation
Date: 12/28/2004 7:25:26 PM
Author:Anthony Nalli
''... but when I get the call I'm getting a B-1!'' ''I'm sorry, did you say a B-1?'' I asked. ''Yeah, it's a high-end watch from Breitling. Every pilot's dream watch.'' Obviously, that's one man's opinion but the way the dialog took shape was eerie, and at that moment I knew the B-1 was for me.
I'd love to hear comments from others.
Anthony
Wow ! You had to have the watch even before seeing it ! I wonder if it was the watch you wanted, or to just try to look good ? Buying another mans dream, how nice...man your a jerk.
If I told that to one of my students....then they came in the next week wearing the watch I've been waiting a long time to buy, and celebrate my success of finally realizing a dream...let's just say he'd be cleaning the puke off himself after the next upper-airwork lesson we had.
-=0=LiR=0=-
Firstly, I had already ordered the watch and had seen it. Secondly, yes - I like to look good. Thirdly, I wish him the best in his dreams and ambitions. My buying the watch doesn't mean he can't or won't. It was merely his comments that helped to secure my decision that the B-1 was in fact the watch for me. Finally, based on your closing comments I am certainly pleased that the instructors at my flight school are obviously much more professional than that. That trait will go a long way in taking them to the future they deserve. Envy on the other hand can only be destructive.
Date: 12/28/2004 7:25:26 PM
Author:Anthony Nalli
and at that moment I knew the B-1 was for me.
Date: 12/28/2004 7:25:26 PM
Author:Anthony Nalli
"The clincher for me was when I was taking a ground school class and was speaking to the instructor during a break"
"Firstly, I had already ordered the watch and had seen it"
Your statements are somewhat contradictory.
"Secondly, yes - I like to look good."
Hey there is nothing wrong with that, most of us feel the same way, but there are hundreds of makes and models to choose from, some infact that in my opinion look better, such as the Herc.
"I am certainly pleased that the instructors at my flight school are obviously much more professional than that. That trait will go a long way in taking them to the future they deserve."
I prefer the trait that allows me to be honest and speak my mind. Something that also serves someone who makes crucial descisions well.
"Envy on the other hand can only be destructive."
I envy nothing because I live the life I used to dream of, flying for a living. If anyone was envious here, it was you. I earned my dreams, I didn't buy someone elses.
The fact is, what you did was tasteless
-=0=LiR=0=-
I envy nothing because I live the life I used to dream of, flying for a living. If anyone was envious here, it was you. I earned my dreams, I didn't buy someone elses.
You seem to be stuck on this. I had done the research and made my decision though I had a short window during which I could change my order (for example to the B-2 rather than the B-1). The ground school instructor's comment was among the last thing in my decision process not the first.
Yeah, this thread was supposed to be about pilot watches. It degenerated with a gratuitous insult into something less. Back to the point, I'm not a professional pilot for whatever that's worth, but I'll tell you that I'm very pleased with my Casio 950 ALT 6000 water resistant altimeter watch. I've found its altimeter remains within 20 feet of the certified unit in my aircraft at various altitudes averaging around 14,000 feet, and it has the advantage of not being susceptible to static-icing limitations (for serious nonprofessional IFR flying).
What was it Shakespeare said about the spoken word and flung arrow? That's doubly true of what we commit to the cyber world, so live and let live, shall we?
Well now, as it has been suggested, we "children" are in fact a little out of control.
However, C. Craig Morris is (in my humble opinion) the control freak on this BBS (yes Craig, this is ment to strike a nerve). In fact I'll bet that in response your fingers are gonna type faster than they did on the single vs multi engine safety thread.
But... you are somewhat right on target on this one (to a limited extent).
If the Casio watch does what it does so dang good (which is more than not likely the case) we should all own one. But, we are all individuals here.
About this Casio altitude feature... please (someone) show me a high end watch with this capability at this price. With the right (B.S.) marketing this feature could bring in several hundered bucks to those that look at name brands.
We should all know that ego's play a BIG role in life and in the purchase process.
Including airplanes, watches, cars and homes.
Well, C. Craig's not the first responder. I can't say whether he is or is not a control freak. I don't know him well enough, except through one letter to Flying and the posts on this forum, to form any opinion as to his personality. I am also not qualified to perform that type of remote control psychoanalysis. I do know that I don't always agree with him. But I will say this in his defense: he has strong opinions and he's willing to stick up for them. And have the courage to sign his name.
As for the point of this thread, the Casio watch is pretty nice, and economical, with several alarms, barometric pressure with trend, altitude variation memory registers, etc, but I admit that after I changed the battery the first time, the alarms don't sound. I hate that, as I need them to remember important things like waking up or checking the bbq. Anyway, I haven't tried to see what might have happened, but will eventually when I get a round tuit.
As for the insult: whoosh, plunk, missed... what a waste of mental energy. Sure, shoot enough arrows and you'll hit the target, but why not save them for the battles worth fighting, and shoot them a bit more sparingly and accurately?
I've been reviewing the posts on this topic. First of all, let me say that I tend to buy (I just bought a Casio Analog/Digital for forty bucks - it's main selling points were solar power and a sweep hand) and use low-end watches for two reasons: 1) They work reasonably well and; 2) I tend to be hard on watches for some reason and I really don't want to scratch or destroy a high-end one. As for the ego side of things, I have a couple of collector-item watches that are extremely handsome that will never see the airport. Heck, they're really too nice to wear, actually.
As for "buying dreams." So what? A watch does not a pilot make. What any of us achieve, anywhere, anytime is shown in our deeds, not ornaments. Yes, the watch and/or wings and/or gold braid on a cap are nice outward symbols. More important, though, is how we fly. And even more important than that is the nature of the "wake" we leave behind as we move through life (and just for the record, I'm not being pious - there's any number of things I know I could/should have done better).
Wow, looks like this forum is just as katty as my own industry forums.
My two cents on this... I fly with a Fortis Spacematic (the 625.22.11 Model). It's got an extremely easy to read face with a contrasting red second hand plus a stop watch. I alos have the citizens blue angels watch as well, but to be honest I'm just not sure I like the looks of it. I've gotten plenty of compliments outside of flying on the Fortis and it's different enough that it stands out. The only regret is that I don't have a function to display GMT. After filing a flight plan for the wrong hour because of the daylight savings change last week, I spent about 20 minutes in the runup area wishing I had that feature while I was waiting for ATC to work us in. Even without it, I'd prefer to have something that looks like a normal watch rather than one with a gazillion bells and whistles that just clutter up the face of the watch. Seriously... how often are you actually going to use that little E6B when you already have a working GPS (or two) and a regular old E6B in your kneeboard or flight bag? It reminds me of those calculator watches that guys used to have in the 80's.
I finally decided to see what was behind this door, and I was exhilarated (sp?) by RV's philosophical comments. There's a level of conscience experience that, while neither observable nor explainable, is a key aspect of our existence. It's sort of the sum total of all our senses, internal and external. May the Force be with you, rather than against.
Posted by: C. Craig Morris As for the point of this thread, the Casio watch is pretty nice, and economical, with several alarms, barometric pressure with trend, altitude variation memory registers, etc, but I admit that after I changed the battery the first time, the alarms don't sound. I hate that, as I need them to remember important things like waking up or checking the bbq. Anyway, I haven't tried to see what might have happened, but will eventually when I get a round tuit.
It is probably the back cover is not in the right place. try lining up the back cover the way it was before you repaced the battery and it should work. what do you think of the Tissot 1853? It has a touch screen, barometric trend, altimeter, temperature, alarm, compass and chronograph. it is expensive($650 at Sporty's). Please let me know.
A watch I really like is the Bell & Ross GMT, which is awesome and functional. Besides that, the Rolex GMT Master, GMT Master II, or the Explorer 2 are all beautiful jewelry. For function without the fancy jewelry thing, the Casio Waveceptor is great and cost about $70.
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