What watch do real Pilots fly with?

[AA717driver]

MD80 pilot (but have flown GIV/G550/450--so, I'm not just a round dial guy. ;)) and I have worn a SS Sub since '96 and just got a Tudor BB Red Bezel.

TC

[BrettG]

As a private pilot I typically wear my Breitling Emergency while flying - a true aviators watch.

[BravoOne]

There was at one time pretty common joke amongst stews that pilots with big watches had small dicks. Don't have a clue on how that survey was compiled but I know it always in the back of my mind when buying a new watch:)

As other have said there no reason to even wear watch when your flying a late model airliner other making sure get to the airplane on time. After that it's all self contained within the FMC and hooked up to the Controller Pilot Data Link (CPDLC). From there on its PFM or better known as Pure Fuggiin Magic. Anyone that tells you he is a pilot, ergo I need a GMT watch for the job, is a poser at best. Back in the days of navigators it was a different story. Most all of the aircraft clocks these days are on the receiving end of GPS as the accuracy demanded is very high. These clocks can cost upwards of 40K for a pair.

[A320]

[diverdoug]

Most of the guys in my flying club wear G-shocks. I think I am the only WIS in the group.

[BigBoyTime]

I have a new crush on Bremont watches. Will be putting them on my list of watches to have for the future.

[corn18]

Love me some Bremonts

[nick c]

I hear that Breitling for the pilots

[oldsalt]

Originally Posted by BigBoyTime

I have a new crush on Bremont watches. Will be putting them on my list of watches to have for the future.

I've also added Bremont to my wish list...

cheers

[vipereaper30]

Originally Posted by CaptLeslie

My first solo flight, 50 years ago, I wore a Breitling Navitimer! But for the last 5 years Bremonts! Cheers Jim.

Hope retirement is treating you well Jim!

Here's a new addition out of its element today.

[vipereaper30]

Of course I need a variety of watches in the cockpit!

[Ravager135]

Originally Posted by corn18

Love me some Bremonts

Nice TPS (Test Pilot School for those not in the know) branding on that Bremont. I spent three years at Pax!

[Seaotter]

My best friend is a (747) Pilot and he wears this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V333L2N_H7c

He flies on: Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, NYC.

Also own a Rolex and a Breitling.
Citizen GPS is the best for him.

cc901554e_3.jpg

[Swashplate]

Aviation CEO here and grew up in the industry. Seen plenty of 5 digit GMTs (older pro pilots, nam pilots), Day dates (Old money FW/RW pilots). Breitlings (Old Billionaire pilot, yes was surprised as he flies his own Falcon 900EX, Lear etc. and figured he would spring for something more interesting) And loads of plastic watches on the younger generation, this game is expensive if Uncle sam isn't paying for it.

Back in the day it was clearly a big thing to have a coke or pepsi GMT. I have seen more of those on my pilot buddies arms than anything else. Usually troublingly worn.....to each their own.

[vipereaper30]

Dive watches work great up here!

[Michaelx]

Originally Posted by vipereaper30

Wannabe airline pilot who currently flies for the USAF here. I prefer a GMT, but sometimes a diver works for me.

Great Pics!




Michael

[Diazjoaquin]

Canadian Airline pilot here, I wear my submariner

[rod727]

Great thread guys keep em coming!

[rodo]

in my buddy's TBM

[vipereaper30]

From the cockpit of my mobile.

[ras47]

Originally Posted by GMT Aviator

I flew DC10's for a while whilst I wore a speedmaster, and within 6 months stopped wearing it to work because it started to look like hell.
My Rolex is still essentially unmarked apart from a few hairlines in the clasp and bracelet and it's seen a lot more cockpit time than the Omega ever did, so from my personal experience I think the modern ceramic bezel Rolex hold up better.
A colleague of mine does my job in the same flight decks and his Breitling Navitimer Chrono literally fell apart after a few years in the job. He's had it serviced by Breitling but the cost of repairs was horrendous.....he too is in the market now for a GMT.
I don't doubt your experiences with your watches and I'm saying the 'ceramic' GMT is a very robust piece of equipment and there aren't many watches that can spend years on a flight deck getting knocked about hour after hour and come out still looking like new like my LN does. That's just my personnel experience of mine and other colleagues watches doing the same job as me. I can't fault this watch. It's perfect for the job it was built to do and I use it for that very purpose every day.

Aside from the incomparable style and quality of Rolexes, they are build like tanks. I don't know any other brand that holds up under daily wear as well as a Rolex.

[GermanyMatt]

Originally Posted by vipereaper30

From the cockpit of my mobile.

Chase car? Are you at Beale?

[Shaky]

Originally Posted by vipereaper30

From the cockpit of my mobile.

Did I just read you are a wannabe passenger jet pilot ??

Are you not flying the ultimate jet still that goes really high ?

Is it retirement time ?

[vipereaper30]

Originally Posted by Shaky

Is it retirement time ?

I wish...it would make the decision a whole lot easier! It has always been a dream of mine to fly for the airlines and it's time to make the transition.

[Shaky]

Originally Posted by vipereaper30

I wish...it would make the decision a whole lot easier! It has always been a dream of mine to fly for the airlines and it's time to make the transition.

Haha. Retirement would definately make my life a whole lot simpler.

There is something ironic about what you currently fly and you saying that you have always dreamed of flying for the airlines, when I would suggest most airline pilots sit there dreaming about flying your current aircraft.
You would look a bit daft walking through an airport in a yellow spacesuit though.

I hope it works out for you mate. I love to see the pics of your watches whilst your in the air. Awesome shots.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[vipereaper30]

Originally Posted by Shaky

You would look a bit daft walking through an airport in a yellow spacesuit though.

Oh yeah, I look daft doing a lot of thing in the suit! Of all the things I'll eventually miss from the Air Force my time flying the U-2 will be at the top of the list.

[Shaky]

Originally Posted by vipereaper30

Oh yeah, I look daft doing a lot of thing in the suit! Of all the things I'll eventually miss from the Air Force my time flying the U-2 will be at the top of the list.

Is that U2 by the pool. Bono don't look so great

[Brainh18]

My one and only Rolex, a BLNR in the XL

[HorologicalGangster]

Airline pilot here. I currently wear a BLNR in the cockpit, and have been for the past 3 years and don't plan on changing anytime soon. I used to wear Breitlings, I owned several of them over the years but lost loyalty for the brand after several mechanical issues with their in-house movement models. The most functional watch for a pilot, imo, is the citizen eco drive skyhawk 2. It has timezones for everywhere in the world, stop watch, alarm, plus it's only a few hundred bucks. It's also an atomic watch so holds accurate time.
I'll take my BLNR over anything in the cockpit though..

Cheers!

Nick

[saskmh]

The fellow I got my 16760 from said he got the watch because his brother wore a Rolex GMT as an airline pilot and told him all the pilots where them. That was back in the early 80's.