What Aviator watch?

[sleepersix]

I have decided that while I save up for a big watch purchase (probably Sinn chronograph or Omega PO), I will buy a cheaper watch to keep me going in the meantime, and am quite keen on the C8 Pilot MkII by Christopher Ward for £299.



The question is, for around this price, is there anything similar by other watches that would be worth considering?

Must be an automatic (my first!) and new!

Any suggestions welcomed.

[Vespula]

TRIAS Uhren - Fliegeruhr Automatik 41mm

EUR 69.00 comes from Germany (no customs worries then) but most likely an Asian movement. I have one - can't fault it.

eBay link:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRIAS-Uhren-Fliegeruhr-Autom...

[Vespula]

And with the money you save you could get one of these top quality Fluco, Aviator straps (from Watchbandcenter, Germany) EUR 16.45:

http://www.watch-band-center.com/watchstrap-p2418h...

[ShadownINja]

Also check out Aristo...

[ebyk13]

Archimede Pilot are decent as well

http://www.archimede-uhren.de/EN/Pilot-family.htm

[Hoover.]

I quite like this.... a few quid more, granted but I like the looks

http://www.steinhartwatches.de/index.php?id=67&amp...

[RichB]

Vespula said:

TRIAS Uhren - Fliegeruhr Automatik 41mm EUR 69.00 comes from Germany (no customs worries then) but most likely an Asian movement. I have one - can't fault it.

Crikey at £58 I might get one of those for when I'm flying, the problem with wearing anything half decent in a cramped cockpit is that you're likely to scratch it or damage it on the various bits of controls and metalwork.

[ShadownINja]

RichB said:

Vespula said:

TRIAS Uhren - Fliegeruhr Automatik 41mm EUR 69.00 comes from Germany (no customs worries then) but most likely an Asian movement. I have one - can't fault it.

Crikey at £58 I might get one of those for when I'm flying, the problem with wearing anything half decent in a cramped cockpit is that you're likely to scratch it or damage it on the various bits of controls and metalwork.

Pilot in "I don't wear pilot's watches" shocker!



G-shock is probably more suited for your purposes, then.

[RichB]

I usually wear a cheap quartz with the face turned inside my wrist. Works the best for me. It's too easy to scratch a watch face in here.

[Hoover.]

RichB said:

I usually wear a cheap quartz with the face turned inside my wrist. Works the best for me. It's too easy to scratch a watch face in here.

that looks like a canoe.... not sure I'd feel safe in there in sky, be alright with the right watch on though

[Vespula]

RichB said:

I usually wear a cheap quartz with the face turned inside my wrist. Works the best for me. It's too easy to scratch a watch face in here.

Yeah, I can see now why you'd need a Hard-as-Nails-Fighter-Pilot's watch

[RichB]

Cheeky sod, the rubber band is crucial to lauch it into the air

[ShadownINja]

Like I say, a G-shock might be more your thing especially when the canoe folds in on itself and you hit the ground that was previously 200m below you. At least the watch will survive.

[RichB]

Humm... well first and foremost I'm a glider pilot & instructor so you wouldn't like that but trust me it is sublime! Flying in something like a modern 2 seater is rather like sitting in the cockpit of a low sports car, reclined in a fibreglass tub. This is what I teach in:-

These cruise at about 50mph but in a fast glide we will approach 100 . It's quite something to spend maybe 3 hours flying perhaps 200-300 miles on just the power of the elements!

I also fly a vintage glider which in it's time was a top notch competition machine, rather like a Porsche 356 i.e. totally outclassed now but good fun



A friend of mine now flys for the Old War Birds Company, Ferocious Frankie the P51 Mustang you may have seen at Goodwood? Not flown that but I have flown a Pitts Special aerobatic bi-plane which was great fun! Other than that mostly stuff I can cadge a flight in from my mates at the club.

This was taken at about 2,000' over Marlow in the wooden canoe

Edited by RichB on Saturday 18th December 17:15

[RichB]

Aerotow mostly, it's a lot safer for a start, indeed the only "near miss" (not with another aircraft but with the earth) was when I busted the cable on an overenthusiastic winch launch at Lasham! And yes we were parachutes, the seat backs are sculpted to take the pack so it forms the seat back.

Here's a good video to give a idea of what it can be like when it all comes together at the same time! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qUxC8XFNAA&fea...

IMO learning to glide is fundamental to flying, it's a bit like learning to ride a cycle before you ride a motor bike. It means I can fly power aircraft intuitively and concentrate on all the power stuff.

[Vespula]

RichB said:

Respect.

Are you Maverick?

[Chainguy]

ShadownINja said:

RichB said:

Vespula said:

TRIAS Uhren - Fliegeruhr Automatik 41mm EUR 69.00 comes from Germany (no customs worries then) but most likely an Asian movement. I have one - can't fault it.

Crikey at £58 I might get one of those for when I'm flying, the problem with wearing anything half decent in a cramped cockpit is that you're likely to scratch it or damage it on the various bits of controls and metalwork.

Pilot in "I don't wear pilot's watches" shocker!



G-shock is probably more suited for your purposes, then.

First rule of the flightdeck. The 250hr right seat wonder WILL be wearing some £4000 Brietling.

The skipper in the left seat will have a £50 (max) digital casio.

It's just the way it seems to be.

I wear a g shock. I'm to old with fecked eyesight to read the numerals on the Brietling flight computer anyways. I also don't feel the need to try and impress when at work.

[Mr Beastmaster]

Yes Sleepersix the CWL c8 is a smashing watch at a fair point. If you do fly planes though don't whatever you do wear one of those cheap casio 50 quid watches. People will think you are too comfortable in your skin, far too self assured and so cock sure of your own capabilities that you do not need to impress people with lavish conspicuous consumption on your wrist. Far better to look like an ambitious young buck who hasn't quite made it but is trying to impress, than to adopt the inverted snobbery approach and not quite pull it off!

See it your own way guys!

[ShadownINja]

at last two posts. I like to wear my Pro-Trek with compass function round the house, lest I get lost.

Edited by ShadownINja on Saturday 18th December 22:12

[sleepersix]

Wow, thanks for the suggestions folks. Still contemplating the C8, but the Archimedes look very interesting with a nice wide range to choose from: steel, titanium, hand wound, chrono etc. Hmmm.

No chance of piloting fast jets unfortunately- that potential career was killed in my teens by dicky eyesight and hay-fever. My flying experience is limited to RAF chipmunks in the cadets at school: brilliant fun (and battle of britain-esque walking out to the airoplane on a grass airfield with a parachute dangling behind your legs), but the escape drill involving climbing out onto the wing before jumping off seemed a bit optimistic...