New Watch for Career Milestone

[Imperial328i]

Today was a big day! I'm an aircraft maintenance engineer who works on C-130T and C-130J aircraft. Today I finished my engine run qualification for the T model. I am now certified to perform various maintenance engine runs. In the course of these tasks it's important to time various things; engine cool down, bleed air pressure bleed off etc. So, I've been looking for a good, cheap chronograph to knock around at work and serve as a timer. Enter the Seiko Flightmaster Chronograph SNA411. Gorgeous watch with a great aviation provenance. The bezel has a rotary slide rule flight computer integrated, known as an E6B. It can calculate fuel burn, distance, ETA, speed, oil consumption, on and on. Not only does it look badass, it is badass. Just wanted to share an exciting day. Thanks for looking!

[NorthCountryGuy]

Congratulations on your work, and your recent Certification.
Excellent choice, and handsome timepiece.
Wear it well.

[overcoil]

Aircraft maintenance engineer - how did u start out in that profession ?

[1MOREMOD]

Very cool, congrats

[euro*]

looks very nice, congrats !

[Nivarox]

That's superb very big congrats
Your choice is a perfect match for this kind of job
I wish you very successful career ahead
Happy Days

[Rmtt]

Congratulations on your work and Certification!

[tim99ws6]

A really huge accomplishment! Congrats to you!

[Imperial328i]

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

Aircraft maintenance engineer - how did u start out in that profession ?

I joined the Navy as an avionics technician. I got all my training in the military. I left the Navy after seven years and got a job as a defense contractor and here I am!

[Imperial328i]

Thanks for all the support guys! Love this community.

[Maynard]

Congratulations, and Seiko is a great choice. They are like the SK tools of watches, high quality, without the brand-fanciness. And I didn't know anybody still knew what a sliderule even was anymore - guessing most of us who do can't manage the fine print enough to use that one, but wicked cool anyway.

[Imperial328i]

Originally Posted by Maynard

Congratulations, and Seiko is a great choice. They are like the SK tools of watches, high quality, without the brand-fanciness. And I didn't know anybody still knew what a sliderule even was anymore - guessing most of us who do can't manage the fine print enough to use that one, but wicked cool anyway.

I used to fly little Cessnas and part of the training was to use an E6B slide rule for flight planning. Of course it's much bigger than this one. The one on the watch is highly impractical if you're flying but it could be used in a pinch. Also it just helps the watch look great in my opinion.

[ny325]

Congratulations, and enjoy your Seiko.

[flybigjet]

Great looking watch (although the E-6B is a Tool of Satan)!

Nice pics of the Herc's too-- One of only a few planes in the inventory that can take a bird strike from the rear! (Translation: They're slooooooow).

Congrats on the cert.

[Imperial328i]

Originally Posted by flybigjet

Great looking watch (although the E-6B is a Tool of Satan)!

Nice pics of the Herc's too-- One of only a few planes in the inventory that can take a bird strike from the rear! (Translation: They're slooooooow).

Congrats on the cert.

Haha! Low and slow is the name of the game! Rarely do we go above FL200. 350 KTAS on a good day. Love them to death though.

[MurrayB]

I love these stories good luck and continued success!

Beautiful & functional watch!

[King Rudi]

Well done! Congratulations and dig the watch!

[Imperial328i]

Originally Posted by MurrayB

I love these stories good luck and continued success!

Beautiful & functional watch!

Originally Posted by Now_Rudi

Well done! Congratulations and dig the watch!

Thanks guys. Any of you BMW enthusiasts out there enjoy watches also?

[flybigjet]

Originally Posted by Imperial328i

Thanks guys. Any of you BMW enthusiasts out there enjoy watches also?

I dabble.

[Imperial328i]

Originally Posted by flybigjet

I dabble.

Very nice. That Glycine and that Sinn GMT are fantastic. That's my next big watch purchase, a mechanical GMT. Tudor Black Bay GMT or a maybe Rolex Explorer II 216570. My current collection consists of two TAG Heuers, an Aquaracer calibre 5 and a Formula 1 calibre 6, and a Hamilton Khaki X-Wind. The last one is pretty cool in that it has built in slide rules to calculate cross wind correction.

[flybigjet]

Originally Posted by Imperial328i

Very nice. That Glycine and that Sinn GMT are fantastic. That's my next big watch purchase, a mechanical GMT. Tudor Black Bay GMT or a maybe Rolex Explorer II 216570. My current collection consists of two TAG Heuers, an Aquaracer calibre 5 and a Formula 1 calibre 6, and a Hamilton Khaki X-Wind. The last one is pretty cool in that it has built in slide rules to calculate cross wind correction.

The Glycine is a vintage GMT Airman and was my Father's. He gifted it to me when I graduated Pilot Training. He wore in in Viet Nam (he got it in 1969-70) and wore it through his AF career, and I wore it through the first Gulf War, Somalia, Bosnia, the Second Gulf War and probably a few more that I forget.

It's a bit small on the wrist nowadays (and my eye's aren't what they used to be anymore!) so it's mostly a heirloom that sees limited use.

The Rolex was a "Captain's Upgrade/50th birthday/10th Anniversary" present from my wife. I'm not huge on bracelets, so I put an Everest Nylon strap on it and couldn't be happier with it.

The Sinn 856 UTC is my "work" watch-- it has two time zones and is made out of stupidly hard metal (5x harder than the Rolex case) and it's utterly scratchproof in the cockpit.

The Seiko is my dive watch-- I've had it down to about 210' so far. Works great.

The Skagen is about a thousand years old, but it's nice to have a single quartz watch on occasion-- and it looks good and weighs nothing since it has a titanium case.

R.

[Imperial328i]

Originally Posted by flybigjet

The Glycine is a vintage GMT Airman and was my Father's. He gifted it to me when I graduated Pilot Training. He wore in in Viet Nam (he got it in 1969-70) and wore it through his AF career, and I wore it through the first Gulf War, Somalia, Bosnia, the Second Gulf War and probably a few more that I forget.

It's a bit small on the wrist nowadays (and my eye's aren't what they used to be anymore!) so it's mostly a heirloom that sees limited use.

The Rolex was a "Captain's Upgrade/50th birthday/10th Anniversary" present from my wife. I'm not huge on bracelets, so I put an Everest Nylon strap on it and couldn't be happier with it.

The Sinn 856 UTC is my "work" watch-- it has two time zones and is made out of stupidly hard metal (5x harder than the Rolex case) and it's utterly scratchproof in the cockpit.

The Seiko is my dive watch-- I've had it down to about 210' so far. Works great.

The Skagen is about a thousand years old, but it's nice to have a single quartz watch on occasion-- and it looks good and weighs nothing since it has a titanium case.

R.

Wooow. What a story with that Glycine. That's truly special. Thanks for sharing your story!