Learning to fly, or thinking of learning? Post your questions, comments and experiences here

Moderator: AndyR

User avatar
By T6Harvard
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1901522
TopCat wrote:I've never really understood why the aeroplane clock isn't perfectly adequate for VFR nav. It's all I ever used until I got bored with drawing lines on maps.

I also use it for timed turns on instruments, although I can imagine that a seconds timer would make that a bit easier for the outbound/inbound legs in the hold when there's a significant wind.


All well and good if the clock works ........ Not found one that does in our training ac :roll:
(I always check as part of pre-flight, of course :D )
Rob P liked this
By TopCat
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1901524
T6Harvard wrote:
TopCat wrote:I've never really understood why the aeroplane clock isn't perfectly adequate for VFR nav. It's all I ever used until I got bored with drawing lines on maps.

I also use it for timed turns on instruments, although I can imagine that a seconds timer would make that a bit easier for the outbound/inbound legs in the hold when there's a significant wind.


All well and good if the clock works ........ Not found one that does in our training ac :roll:
(I always check as part of pre-flight, of course :D )

I obviously have no idea how the other half live :)

The electric analogue clock in my aeroplane is over 40 years old, and keeps excellent time.
T6Harvard liked this
User avatar
By Rob P
#1901530
T6Harvard wrote:All well and good if the clock works ........ Not found one that does in our training ac

I'd always assumed this was de rigeur on training aircraft. Probably made inop so you couldn't argue with the times the instructor made up. :lol:

Rob P
User avatar
By PeteSpencer
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1901535
TopCat wrote:I've never really understood why the aeroplane clock isn't perfectly adequate for VFR nav. It's all I ever used until I got bored with drawing lines on maps.

I also use it for timed turns on instruments, although I can imagine that a seconds timer would make that a bit easier for the outbound/inbound legs in the hold when there's a significant wind.


Even if it did work, (it doesn't) the ancient clock in our a/c is down at ankle level mid console beside the rudder trim, so trying to reach the stop/on button would mean groping about by yer ankles, taking yer eyes off the horizon/outside and likely moving the yoke.

Even the natty digital timer on the Garmin TXPDR involves stretching over to the other side of the radio stack.

Nah: The best timing option is either a quartz watch on yer wrist (underside-try it), or an analogue stopwatch on a clip on yer kneeboard, right beside your paper plog and your biro to write on it. :wink:

Traditional aviating, not catering. :roll:
User avatar
By T6Harvard
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1901545
@PeteSpencer , my Dad always wore his watch on the underside of his wrist. He said it saved a lot of scratches but also made it far easier to check if you had your hands full. I'd forgotten all about that, so thanks for the reminder.
User avatar
By T6Harvard
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1901549
JAFO wrote:Of course, if you fly a proper aeroplane with the left hand used for the throttle, you can wear the watch the right way up. :thumright:


(At the risk of getting myself into big trouble) which way does your wristwatch face when adjusting the throttle? I bet you have to twist your hand over. Pete's right, inside is easier to see. Heli pilots are excluded from this theory, for several reasons....
JAFO liked this
User avatar
By Flyingfemme
#1901559
Whatever you pick, don’t waste much money. You probably won’t use it after you get your certificate (except for instrument training).
When I started my IMC my mum bought me a Tag-Heuer stopwatch with a clip to keep it on my kneeboard. Nice bit of kit but I haven’t used it in decades.
My wrist adornment of choice for aviating now is a 1965 Omega Seamaster 300, on original steel strap. It’s big enough to see without my reading glasses and big enough (on my slender wrist) to satisfy the “big pilot watch” rule.
Skydemon does all the ETA, ETE stuff with far more accuracy than an analogue timepiece and the G1000 is a useful backup……………..
T6Harvard liked this
By Rjk983
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1901585
PeteSpencer wrote:
EDIT: Remember of course for Nav Exercises you may be asked by ATC for your ETA so reading your ETA off your watch is a doddle. I guess solely relying on your kitchen timer your ETA would be 'five mince pies past spongecake'.


It’s been 24 hours and @paulsengupta hasn’t responded, does anyone know if he is okay :D :D



PeteSpencer wrote: 30 years ago when I started flying I bought an ex RAF Nav Seiko: I took the webbing strap off and binned it and fitted a Titanium band £200 in total.



If you still have it then get it sold. Working ones go for around £1000. Auction sites regularly sell them for between £400-£600 with no indication of whether they work or not. There are a few specialists who will take them apart and repair. For a fee.
T6Harvard liked this
By Rjk983
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1901592
lobstaboy wrote:Even cheaper
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9073320


It is cheaper, but I would argue the rotating bezel feature in the OP is worth the extra expense.

Its easy and quick to set the bezel to the current time when you turn then refer back once you are settled down and HAT complete so you can go back to filling in your PLOG.

But whatever system works for you is fine.
T6Harvard, PeteSpencer liked this
User avatar
By Micromouse
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1901612
Given that I am sitting here wearing a top of the range Garmin DX titanium this that and the other PILOT watch :-) I am a fine one to talk, but my advice is cheap and digital, so any basic Casio would do. I found that being able to see minutes directly 03, 47 etc was far easier than reading a watch face, especially with sun glare etc etc. I've used benzel watches as backups for scuba diving and they are far from perfect and easily nudged.

Wayne

P.S the Garmin was a present!!
T6Harvard liked this
User avatar
By JAFO
#1901679
NDB_hold wrote:Originally I was going to say ‘whatever watch you wear normally’, then remembered that this is the non-watch-wearing generation…


I think that's a compliment @T6Harvard :thumleft:
T6Harvard liked this