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Scrapple
33
Feb 23, 2018
Like a lot of complications, very cool but useless.
Blair_Heavenwood
24
Feb 23, 2018
ScrappleIt has a very specific use! Now, the market is not broad for the intended use, but let's be honest, but for comparison, how many people go scuba diving and rely on their "dive" watch? I learned to dive with a watch, but nowadays, just about everyone is rocking a dive computer on their console.
Scrapple
33
Mar 9, 2018
Blair_HeavenwoodSure, but a watch that has water resistance of a dive watch is seen as rugged, and wearers won’t have to worry about taking it in the shower or to the pool.
An altimeter, though cool, has a very limited use for most pilots. It can’t be used in a pressurized cockpit, so that means a lot of pilots are excluded from using it, and it would really only be a redundancy for the pilots who would use it - albeit, a redundancy that is hard to see in many conditions in a cockpit. Not saying it’s not cool, and I’m not saying it’s not worth getting; just that it would be far down on my list of complications for a pilot (GMT and an E6B slide rule would be at the top).
ScrappleGMT is the top in my opinion, but really only for pre-mission planning. Not all that useful in the air. The majority of pilots operate out of nonpressurized cockpits, and many pressurized cockpits will de-pressurize in the event of total power loss, which would be the only time the altimeter complication would be truly referenced (assuming a digital cockpit; older analog barometers of course will function without power). The slide rule complications are neat, but clumsy and practically useless. Their size makes them too hard to read (impossible when you introduce turbulence), and the fact it is on your watch means it's a two handed operation. Not ideal in the cockpit. The functionality (watch models can't match the features), size, and low cost of real wiz-wheels makes them infinitely more user-friendly. More legible and able to be manipulated one-handed. At the end of the day; however, electronic knee boards do most of your calculations for you, relegating wiz-wheels to practical non-use.
At the end of the day, practically all watch complications past time/day/date are simply for fun. You don't need a dive watch to take a shower or go swimming (or diving), or a slide rule or altimeter complication to go flying. It is cool to have the option though, and that's all it's really about.
Scrapple
33
Mar 9, 2018
Blair_HeavenwoodI probably wasn’t clear; this complication is only useful to a pilot in the air, but is so small I would hate it to be my backup. So as cool as it is...it’s useless.
A feature like water resistance on a dive watch keeps the watch safe from water intrusion in rain/swimming/showering/washing dishes so it’s useful out of the dive environment. Complications like GMT and slide rules (and chronographs) on aviation watches have utility outside of the cockpit; we discussed GMT & slide rules, but I use my chronograph all of the time on my current watch.!
So, I think we are in violent agreement - most watch complications are fun, but there is diminishing returns on usage in the cockpit. 😉 And this one, IMO, has very little return in the cockpit.
From my own experience as a military pilot: I left my wiz wheel in my flight bag on the plane for the most part, so If I was doing flight planning, I would use my watch that had a slide rule on it (until my eyes got so I couldn’t read it when the markings became scratched-then I would use my wiz wheel). Same with using GMT - 110% the most important complication on a watch when I flight planned.
I actually used my wiz wheel a bunch in the air for bingo fuel planning (once I got to altitude and checked winds); the C-130 I flew in had nothing fancy that would calculate it for me, so I spent a lot of time with it.
As for majority of pilots flying unpressurized aircraft - I‘m guessing it’s a slim majority once you factor in military and commercial pilots, vice dentists flying their Piper Cubs on the weekends... but would love to see the numbers on that.
ScrappleI'm a military flyer as well. 3k hours between H-60s and T-6Bs. Don't forget helo bubbas when guestimating majorities! I passed on this watch only due to the size. It would get bashed to death in the tight confines of a T-6. In a 737 cockpit I think it would look silly. Had it been 44mm and a couple Mms thinner, I would have bit. In a 737 cockpit I think it would look silly.
Scrapple
33
Mar 9, 2018
Blair_HeavenwoodAgree on all points. And having served with many HH-60 drivers, I would never forget helo bubbas (no matter how hard I try, because they won’t let me).😛 I retired 2 years ago so take what I say with a grain of salt; 4800 in the Chuck—130, (plus a little bit in T-44s & T-34s).
Are you at Whiting now? That T6 seems like a tremendous aircraft to fly...an old shipmate of mine retired out of their last year and he seemed to enjoy it (except for the looooong day’s for just two sorties).
Blair_Heavenwood
24
Mar 10, 2018
ScrappleDid my last tour there as a DH. Heading back in a few months. Life can be good. It does make for some long days with no hot-seating. The T-6 is best described as 2/3 of a Mustang. Too much for a primary trainer in my opinion, and though I never flew a 34, it's generally accepted as not as robust. Kicked my ass at first. I trained in primary on the T-37, so prop torque was a new thing. You still flying?
Scrapple
33
Mar 10, 2018
Blair_Heavenwoodi imagine it’s easy for students to get behind the aircraft (I was barely hanging onto the tail from Fam 1-5 in the Turbomentor), but for folks moving on to flying pointy-nosed planes it’s probably a good thing.
I am not flying now; I put in an application to SWA when I was getting ready to retire, and got thru the first round. I then came to realization that flying wouldn’t be good for my family, as we have a special needs kid and I should be home more.
No biggie- I got a civilian job I enjoy with great people. Keep enjoying your time in the cockpit, though.