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In your opinion, is the Omega Speedmaster considered a true "Pilot's Watch?"

gatorcpa
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Longines Heritage Avigation:

longines-heritage-avigation-oversize-crown-chronograph-watch.jpg
Kind of blends the old with the new. Also comes in non-chronograph GMT and plain 3-handed versions.

But no, I don't think Speedmaster is a traditional "pilot's" watch in that sense.

On the other hand, all of the astronauts who wore them in the Gemini/Apollo years were pilots.

So who's to say?
gatorcpa
 
Foo2rama
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While the Speedmaster was used by pilots, its was not a pilot watch, and a basic pilots watch could not have fulfilled the requirements put forth by NASA. They needed the chronograph, and for some reason a navitimer was not requested, nor was one submitted. The requirements for space are not the same as needed by pilots, as they both had different requirements as tool watches. http://www.watchprosite.com/?page=wf.forumpost&fi=677&ti=1054643&pi=7607273&pzt=1456703651
 
Faz
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U ulackfocus
They shouldn't be no matter how they're marketed. Look at the A-11 watches worn by pilots in WWII - basic with lume.
Hmmm...So what to say of the WWII Fliegerchonos specifically designed for Luftwaffe pilots?
Tutima_zpsclmqx3rz.jpg
 
Pvt-Public
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Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
Traditionally, a pilot watch is a large watch, manual wind, 2-3 hands, with Arabic numbers. They basically resemble the old clocks in the cockpit.
Some of the cockpit clocks were quite complicated for example The Hamilton/Elgin 37500 that was installed in several WWII aircraft this one was in a F4-U Corsair.
Hamilton Elgin 37500.PNG
 
Tubber
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Pilot's watch, Glycine Airman 1 or SST? They were popular with both USAF pilots and Commercial Airline pilots in the 60's.

32 copy.jpg 12 copy.jpg
 
Mad Dog
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noelekal noelekal
Of course it is. MadDog's got one. I've seen the photos of him wearing it in the cockpit.
And outside the cockpit. 👍

For the record: I did NOT stencil those reclining naked ladies on the splash guards. 😲

image.jpeg image.jpeg
 
JFingers
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Is it a pilot watch? Meh... maybe. According to your definition it seems like only the classic WWII fliegers would qualify.
Do pilots wear this watch? Absolutely.

(Bay Area)

75f2ad3812374a9cb870864e3f459b79.jpg

ca48b7f8086948afd4b332767c3b9ec4.jpg

I call this one "because I was inverted!"

f11067633fb1527ea53a953868e13daa.jpg

Mt Shasta

a50706d3bff1155433002faac11899ff.jpg

"Pay raise, or, I need a better tailor"

29664f5d243645b8d886ecb5b281e133.jpg

Do I NEED to wear it? Nope. Do I WANT to? Yup.

Blue skies, y'all!
-only jake

@Mad Dog and @tyrantlizardrex, you guys are awesome, thanks for thinking of me!
Edited:
 
rollingrevolver
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JFingers JFingers
Is it a pilot watch? Meh... maybe. According to your definition it seems like only the classic WWII fliegers would qualify.
Do pilots wear this watch? Absolutely.

(Bay Area)

Do I NEED to wear it? Nope. Do I WANT to? Yup.

Blue skies, y'all!
-only jake

@Mad Dog and @tyrantlizardrex, you guys are awesome, thanks for thinking of me!

Fantastic shots! I love seeing speedmasters being used like the tool watches they are! 👍

Best,
Sean
 
Steve88M3
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This is the best post OF has ever had.

Shut the place down. That's it.

JFingers JFingers
Is it a pilot watch? Meh... maybe. According to your definition it seems like only the classic WWII fliegers would qualify.
Do pilots wear this watch? Absolutely.

(Bay Area)

75f2ad3812374a9cb870864e3f459b79.jpg

ca48b7f8086948afd4b332767c3b9ec4.jpg

I call this one "because I was inverted!"

f11067633fb1527ea53a953868e13daa.jpg

Mt Shasta

a50706d3bff1155433002faac11899ff.jpg

"Pay raise, or, I need a better tailor"

29664f5d243645b8d886ecb5b281e133.jpg

Do I NEED to wear it? Nope. Do I WANT to? Yup.

Blue skies, y'all!
-only jake

@Mad Dog and @tyrantlizardrex, you guys are awesome, thanks for thinking of me!
 
Foo2rama
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JFingers JFingers
Is it a pilot watch? Meh... maybe. According to your definition it seems like only the classic WWII fliegers would qualify.
Do pilots wear this watch? Absolutely.

(Bay Area)

75f2ad3812374a9cb870864e3f459b79.jpg

ca48b7f8086948afd4b332767c3b9ec4.jpg

I call this one "because I was inverted!"

f11067633fb1527ea53a953868e13daa.jpg

Mt Shasta

a50706d3bff1155433002faac11899ff.jpg

"Pay raise, or, I need a better tailor"

29664f5d243645b8d886ecb5b281e133.jpg

Do I NEED to wear it? Nope. Do I WANT to? Yup.

Blue skies, y'all!
-only jake

@Mad Dog and @tyrantlizardrex, you guys are awesome, thanks for thinking of me!
And I thought the story about the SR 71speed check was the ultimate shut down. An honest to god Dragon Lady crew member!!

For those that don't know the story.
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/favorite-sr-71-story-1079127041
 
Northernman
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U ulackfocus
Chronographs are NOT highly legible. The dials are cluttered. Pilot's watches are supposed to be large and simple with great visibilty, even at night.
There are some good exceptions:
dsc03388e.jpg
(I would have liked it even better if they had ditched the date indication)

Of the more recent offerings I find the Sinn EZM1 and its variants very legible as well.
 
Donn Chambers
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Pvt-Public Pvt-Public
Some of the cockpit clocks were quite complicated for example The Hamilton/Elgin 37500 that was installed in several WWII aircraft this one was in a F4-U Corsair.
Hamilton Elgin 37500.PNG

True, but that is an unusual clock. If you look at clocks on other military planes of the era, or pre World War II, such as shown at this link:

http://relojdeavion.es

The majority are much simpler. Since pilot watches were developed in the 1920s, they were patterned more after the World War 1 era clocks.
 
JFingers
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tyrantlizardrex tyrantlizardrex
Always man!

What are you flying in the green suit?
T-38A, it is our companion trainer that we use for instrument flying practice.

Blue skies,
-only Jake
 
tyrantlizardrex
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JFingers JFingers
T-38A, it is our companion trainer that we use for instrument flying practice.

Blue skies,
-only Jake

Very cool man. 😀
 
Dash1
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until the advent of modern navigation aids a stop watch of some sort was an essential piece of kit for any pilot, in fact when I took my power licence last year I still had to do the nav test using only a map, compass and stop watch(!) I used my 105.012-65 speedy for that and have used it for many years to time my glider flights and still do. It's a really useful thing and I find it easy to read in the cockpit, more so than my Navitimer which is tricky to read despite it being designed specifically for pilots.
I have also found that quite a high percentage of old Speedmasters I have bought where originally owned by pilots, professional, private and military, so my view would be a definite yes to the OP's question.
 
Mad Dog
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JFingers JFingers
T-38A, it is our companion trainer that we use for instrument flying practice.

Blue skies,
-only Jake
So what's that like going back and forth regarding a big U-2 wing and a stubby T-38 wing? Do you have to put your big wing/small wing hats on interchangeably? I would imagine so! I fly with quite a few former USAF T-38 FAIP types at Delta...and they often comment on that stubby T-38 wing regarding how it can turn you into a smoking hole in a quick-like fashion. 😲

Nevertheless...that T-38 is a HOT ride! 😎
 
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