The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I've noticed in a few posts that folks have asked/wondered/questioned about actually deploying the antennae on the Emergency. Well I was once lucky enough to do just that (and I'm really glad it was not for a real emergency situation)! Please keep in mind that if you own this watch, the actual deployment of the antennae/beacon are for EMERGENCY USE ONLY!! Please don't try this at home unless you have actually crashed in an aircraft.

About 10 years ago, the squadron I was in, along with one of our sister squadron's in our Airwing, were asked to test out a Brietling Emergency on a U.S. Aircraft Carrier. The Navy was considering purchasing the watch for aviators and wanted to make sure that there was no interference to the watch from all the electronics on the ship.

After those tests were complete, we got to deploy the ELT function of the watch, of course in a controlled environment well out to sea and on a local operating area island. We tested for signal strength and distance of reception. Turns out it did pretty well. The tests showed that different aviation platforms could receive the signal up to 45 miles away and at 10 miles it was very strong. Seemed to work best at about the 10-20 mile range.

It was cool to pull the antennas out and see it work! After the testing, the watches were of course returned to Breitling for refurbishment...guess the Navy never did buy them, but I sure asked if I could have one after they were re-worked...got a firm answer from the test director..."no!"

Anyway, there is a good write-up on some similar testing at another watch website just search for Breitling Emergency Antenna Deployment...there are some pictures of one of the antennae deployed too.

Just thought I would share that story for those owning an Emergency...

Randy

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Aerospace SE
Avenger Seawolf Blacksteel

Great post, very interesting to read. However I wonder if that didn't raise more questions on "how to/what if" then answered. I guess I better keep my nosy hands off the Emergency.

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

Thanks Aleister...I edited the original post with a little warning/disclaimer...I certainly don't want anyone "testing" their watch because of my post...big no no!!

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Aerospace SE
Avenger Seawolf Blacksteel

Good to know that it REALLY does work! I wonder why your navy didn't go for it.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I think the cost was a bit prohibitive...I remember it being somewhere in the range of $3,000, and that is a lot when you spread it over several hundred folks...

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Aerospace SE
Avenger Seawolf Blacksteel

Great story ! It is nice to know it actually works so effectively

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BREITLING EMERGENCY + UTC CORAL DIALS
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LOUIS VUITTON TAMBOUR DIVERS
PANERAI LUMINOR

Very cool! Which aircraft carrier was it? I was on one for 4 years

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Mario,
It was on Lincoln...
What boat were you on?

Randy

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Aerospace SE
Avenger Seawolf Blacksteel

CV-63 Kitty Hawk

better known as the shitty Kitty

In all seriousness, she is the one pictured in the 02 Chronolog only it has it listed as the Harry S Truman! Which is the CVN-75!!!

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Never had the opportunity to be on the KH...now its on its way to decom!

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Aerospace SE
Avenger Seawolf Blacksteel

I got off just as they were moving it to homeport in Japan.

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