Ron-
Here it is: Ball Aviation GMT
2008 SR20-G3 N495PG #1954 Avidyne
Brandon: As far as i am concerned, every pilot watch i have ever seen cost too much. There are great inexpensive watches out there that have very nice features but are not specifically for pilots. I am in the crowd wanting it to be practical and simple having the features we use the most.
Brian SR22 Turbo #2135
For me, all I want is a watch with an analog time display for local time and a digital UTC display. I would like the watch to be relatively thin and lightweight. I have absolutely no need for E6B functions, timers, stopwatch etc. The date would be nice but I'm still able to remember that on my own. The E6B and chronometer functions found on most "pilot watches" are of no practical value, at least for me, and make the watch look far too busy and increase the weight and size significantly.
In other words I agree with Gordon.
When I fly I usually use a Casio I bought about 15 years ago for about $15.00. It is certainly not a status symbol but it gives me everything I need - accurate time display and UTC.
Jerry SR22 #063 N1970
COMM ASMEL CFII
Excess complication is the bane of "pilot watches" IMHO. More features are a bad thing. It needs to be brain-dead simple to operate to be useful. Any feature that requires reading the manual to learn should be eliminated.
I like my Citizen Skyhawk Eco-Drive (despite the name) as it totally handles the time zone stuff that is often an issue. Between the sweep hands and the digital display, it's easy enough to read despite my aging eyes. I particularly like the solar power batteryless design.
Eliminate the useless whiz-wheel and make some of the time zone functions more obvious and it would be perfect.
Hyperbole is murdering us!
You can go for form or function. When it comes to function, I fly with this watch. It is the one I bought multiple copies of in the women's version for Sherri since that model is discontinued. I set the analog dial to local time. Pressing and holding the big START/LAP button flips the digital display between local and UTC. Generally I leave it on UTC. With my old eyes, the large font and Indiglo lighting make it easy to read at night. The plastic band is comfortable and I don't have to worry about scratches during preflight. For cool factor there is a Citizen titanium watch (shown in the immediately previous post I think) I would love to have. It has lots of dials and functions I would never use but it looks great. However, when I fly, I want a watch that I don't worry about and which can be seen when I need it.
Paul
Paul Platt N792PS
I have to say Rolex got it right with the GMT. Zulu is easy to read, bezel turns so I can mark what time I switched tanks, and the hour hand adjusts easily to changing time zones. Old design, but the best I've found. Simple and clear for my old eyes, too. It's a fine watch, and you use all of it's functionality when you fly.
Cessna 510 Mustang, Former G1,2&3 SR22s
Brandon,
Let me underline/strengthen some of John's points:
None of the above should discourage you from selling a pilot's watch if your market research shows that there's money to be made. However, in light of the above, I wonder if it's possible to create a watch with a user-switchable LCD panel. It seems to me that an LCD panel is inescapable. But in normal ("social") use, it detracts aesthetically. Why shouldn't one should be able to hide it, say, under a panel?
-Sanjay
Any errors, lexicographic or not, in the above, are due to auto-correct.
WOW!! Thanks everyone, this is amazing feedback and very much appreciated. I took notes on all of your comments. I would like to individually acknowledge each one of you for taking the time to help with this process. I am very excited to see the results of all this input. I will definitely share the result with everyone and I will reward those who gave me input with a nice discount if you desire one of the finished products.
Please keep it coming and I apologize in advance if I am slow to acknowledge all the great input.
Blue Skies!!
Brandon
Thanks Sherri and you can bet there will be a woman's version. My wife is already in progress on limited editions for ladies!
As Micheal described, I also have a Tissot touch, and find it to be a "neat" watch, that is good looking, with a "neat" user interface. However, I share most of Michaels comments regarding it's shortfalls. I think the ultimate "modern" aviation watch might have the following features:
1. A small flashlight function, with a dedicated "push on - push off" button. Useful for finding suff in the cockpit at night, and useful for getting to your bedroom after Monday Night Football, when your wife turned off all the other lights in the house.
2. Automatic UTC display, without the need for user input to reset the time zone. (I just landed in Dayton OH, and need to file a new flight plane ... what time zone am I in, and how can I call flight service without doing any math?) I know my phone resets to different time zones based upon location, but maybe that is too much for a watch?
3. Altimeter, but with a US setting to adjust the altimeter. Might be (marginally) useful in the air, and is fun to look at while on a hike, or while driving in the mountains. As Micheal suggested, the Tissot functionality is useless, unless you set the starting elevation on the day you want the reading. Problem is, you never know the starting elevation. Of course, pilots know how to adjust altimeter settings.
4. Compass, like the Tissot. Works pretty good (except you have to remember "is the long hand north, or is the fat hand north"?
5. Make it look aviation related. Actually, an E6B might be aesthetically appropriate. I think pilots like the prestige of non-pilots thinking flying is more complex than it really is. Nobody will ever use the E6B, but what else says "flying"?
6. Make a few different aesthetic versions. A = modern and technological. B= mid sized, and subdued. C=lots of pilot "Bling".
7. I have no idea what it takes to make a user interface similar to the Tissot, but it is a great interface; one that I've never seen on another watch. Pilots like technology, and generally like "wow" factor.
Aside from aviation (and "pilot" aesthetics), I think the above functions could serve a lot of users. Hikers, boaters, climbers, etc. All of those users coud find the above functions useful .... just make the "inards" the same, and adjust the aesthetics to the target market.
Can it be ready for Christmas? I want one!
Mark Woglom - Formerly SR22 GTS - Now Cessna 414
Thanks Sanjay! I do understand your viewpoint. For me a watch is the only accessory I will wear, so I have many of them and finally bought a company to make ones I really like and that I can use for different things. We have been working on a Reverso watch similar to Jaeger Lecoultre, but much less expensive, this one may address your idea. My goal is stylish, functional, high quality watches from Switzerland but at affordable prices.
Best, Brandon
Brandon:
That sounds like something I would like. We wear our watches in places other than the cockpit. So functions that one can use in the cockpit are great for pilot use. But being able to wear it to work or out to dinner makes it even better. At the right price you have a winner.
Tim Gieseler: I like my Citizen Skyhawk Eco-Drive (despite the name) as it totally handles the time zone stuff that is often an issue. Between the sweep hands and the digital display, it's easy enough to read despite my aging eyes.
I like my Citizen Skyhawk Eco-Drive (despite the name) as it totally handles the time zone stuff that is often an issue. Between the sweep hands and the digital display, it's easy enough to read despite my aging eyes.
I second your comments. I have one and like it a lot.
Roger Whittier SR22 N706CD S/N 0009 Glendale Arizona KGEU
Don Dubin: I also like an alarm to set, so I remember to close my flight plan if I am VFR,
Low-tech but very effective solution to that problem here.
Gordon ATP/CFI Formerly SR22 NA and G3 GTS Turbo. Now Total Eclipse jet!
I for years; wore a MSN watch. It was digital and got information over a FM network. The one thing I liked about it that I have not seen replicated; was that I could pick the format of the data. I could design my own watch face and put the data that I wanted where I wanted. I wanted more choices. So if you want to go high-tech. What works is to allow the owner to design the watch face and put it how they want it and at what size they want it.
Kind of like Mr. Potatoe Head for those that remember that game.
Take it to a new level. Build a complete digital watch that looks good and uses a network that can be received anywhere. Then set up subscriptions for information. For Pilots they could get METAR, TAFs, etc. I liked the MSN watch because I could get sports scores and other information.
In the end; Cell Phones now give you more information than any watch ever will.
Young kids don't even want or need watches any more. Their cell phone is their watch.
John Ylinen Cirrus SR22G2 (N927SF) @ HEF (Manassas VA) Pvt Pilot Instrument