====== Pilot's watch ======
{{wst>image_cr|Tutima|Fliegerchronograph|Tutima Pilot's Chronograph 1941}}

A **pilot's watch** is a [[watch]] type which is specially tailored to the needs of aircraft pilots. As first pilot's watch the [[Cartier Santos|Santos]] by [[Cartier]] is considered (see link to the story).

===== Characteristics of pilot's watches =====
{{wst>image_cr|Breitling|Montbrillant 1903|Breitling Montbrillant 1903 (with [[slide rule]]) - jubilee edition at the 100th anniversary of the first flight of the brothers Wright}}

It cannot be rigidly defined, which attributes a pilot's watch must have. There are [[chronograph]]s, but also usual [[manual winding]] and [[automatic]] models, and there are models with bidirectional rotating [[bezel]] for the measurement of intermediate times (e.g., the air force chronographs [[Tutima]] or [[Hanhart]]), or without rotating bezel, and there are navigation watches as the [[Longines Lindbergh]] or [[Longines Weems]], which allow the calculation of positions. There are also watches with logarithmic slide rules with which flight distances can be calculated ([[Breitling Navitimer]]). Also models used in space can be found, including the legendary //Moon Watch// ([[Omega Speedmaster Professional]]) or the [[Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph|Official Cosmonauts Chronograph]] by [[Fortis]].

A [[flyback]] function can also be useful as an additional [[complication]] with [[pilot's chronograph]]s, which offer a simple way (by pressing just one [[pusher]]) to measure intermediate times. Also useful is a good protection against [[magnetization]]. Several models have extended or flipout bracelets, which allow to wear the watch on the aviator jacket.

===== Specialized manufacturers =====
Some manufacturers have specialized mainly on pilot's watches or put the main focus of their marketing on the aeronautics field. (So the company [[Sinn]] was founded by the former pilot and flight instructor [[Helmut Sinn]], who initially offered only inexpensive pilot's watches and now continues with his brand [[Guinand]]. Also [[Breitling]] and [[Fortis]] put a strong emphasis on pilot's watches. Other specialized manufacturers are [[Laco]], [[Bell & Ross]] and [[Zeno]].)

The specialization in pilot's watches is well accepted by the market, since these watches with their distinctive appearance lie in the trend and are associated with features such as "male" or "sporty". Especially the brand [[Breitling]] owes its brilliant re-ascent in the 80s and 90s not least to this image.

===== Small selection of well known models =====
  *[[Longines Lindbergh]] - [[Hour angle watch]] for navigation
  *[[Longines Weems]] - Navigation watch
  *[[Tutima|Tutima Pilot's Chronograph 1941]]
  *[[Hanhart_Pioneer_Calibre_II|Hanhart Pilot's Chronograph]]
  *[[IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XI]] and successors (e.g. [[IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XII]], [[IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XV]], [[IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XVI]]) - Pilot's watch with soft-iron inner case against [[magnetization]]
  *[[IWC Big Pilot's Watch|IWC Big Pilot's Watch]] - Oversized Pilot's watch with soft-iron inner case against [[magnetization]]
  *[[IWC Pilot's Watch UTC]] - Pilot's watch with [[UTC]] indication
  *[[Breitling Navitimer]] -Pilot's Chronograph with [[slide rule]]
  *[[Breitling Chronomat]] - Pilot's Chronograph
  *[[Breguet Type XX Aeronavale]] - Pilot's Chronograph with [[flyback]] function
  *[[Omega Speedmaster Professional]] - Chronograph, "The Moon Watch", used by the NASA
  *[[Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph]] - Space chronograph, in a variant with additional [[alarm function]]
  *[[Sinn 356 Flieger]] - Very affordable classic
  *[[Sinn 756]] - Technically enhanced pilot's chronograph with [[UTC]] indication

{{wst>image_cl|Aristo|Messerschmitt ME 262 Schwarz|[[Aristo Messerschmitt ME 262]]}}

===== Literature =====
  *Die Fliegeruhren von IWC; Authors [[Christian Pfeiffer-Belli]], [[Rüdiger Bucher]]; ISBN 3871880701 (engl. version ISBN 387188068X )

===== Weblinks =====
  *[[http://www.fliegeruhr.ch/|Die Fliegeruhr]] - Infos about [[IWC]] pilot's watches (German)
  *[[http://www.messerschmitt262.de/messerschmitt262.htm|Aristo Messerschmitt Me 262]] (German combat airplane of WW II)


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