What kind of watches do pilots really use?

[L.O. Little]

I'm also curious about which functions on "complicated" watches they use the most...

 

[Charles Gallo]

One of my friends once said

In my X years in the Navy, he says he only saw ONE aviator wearing a Breitling - That was a visiting RN aviator who happened to have the last name of "Winsor"

 

[soa]

Originally posted by Charles Gallo
One of my friends once said

In my X years in the Navy, he says he only saw ONE aviator wearing a Breitling - That was a visiting RN aviator who happened to have the last name of "Winsor"

If his first name was Charles, Andrew or Philip - I'd guess it was Windsor

 

[Charles Gallo]

Originally posted by soa
If his first name was Charles, Andrew or Philip - I'd guess it was Windsor

Yeah, I guess I got the spelling wrong

and it was Charles

 

[beemerphile]

I imagine that pilots wear really "plane" watches. - Lee

 

[grnamin]

Here's an interesting article from Timezone.com:

http://www.timezone.com/article.aspx?id=comarticles&articleId=comarticles631681541115674669

 

[DanEHunter]

I can't speak for all pilots but from what I've seen around my flight school pilots really aren't too concerned with watches these days. Of all the students and instructors I've run into I've seen one Breitling (an emergency on the wrist of a middle eastern student) one Omega seamaster chronograph and a few Citizen navihawks. Even small Cessnas have accurate digital timers these days...that is what you use for timing not your wristwatch. I usually wear whatever I feel like when I go flying.

 

[DB1]

During my many years of air travel, 100K miles+ /yr., I made a point of looking at the flight crew's watches, as I'm a bit of a watch nut.

My informal observation of the most popular watches: digital models by Casio and Timex. Never saw a Breitling, and only a handful of Rolexes and Omegas.

 

[Don Rac]

I remember reading something in someones post that went something like, "If you see a pilot that has a watch that says water resist to 200m then you'd better reconsider your flight."

 

[Bladeswinger]

Chase-Durer.com makes some SWEET pilot watches!

 

[donn]

My brothers a pilot and he wears a cheap casio digital. I wear an Oris Big Crown Commander automatic that apparently was the timepiece of choice of US airforce bomber crew during WWII. I bought it about 6 years ago and although its due for a service its still keeping excellent time. Also it has a crystal back so when you get bored you can take it off and watch the movement in action.
Not one of the more the more high profile Swiss makes but quality all the same.
D.