Nice review and nice watch.:-!
AirNautic AN-24 Pilot...REVIEW!.....
15
Hi all,
![]()
I used to own a Yantar AirNautic years ago, and I'm glad I finally contacted Mitch and purchased a new AirNautic AN-24 Pilot.
I've owned the watch for a week now, and have used it extensively on some late, late night flights while teaching and evaluating some new guys on F-4949 NVGs (night vision goggles).
As you can see from my current 24 hour watch collection, orange seems to be a bit of a going trend (with the custom Omega orange hands on my U.G. AeroCompax). No...I don't think a Doxa's in my immediate future ;-)
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
The watch has all the aesthetic beauty of the old Yantar, with some major improvements. The anti-reflective coating is applied to the underside of the flat sapphire crystal only (the Yantar has AR on top, and the slightest touch would disfigure the crystal). The size is slightly increased to 41.5mm X 11.75mm. I know the trend today is HUGENESS, but believe me, this watch wears BIG for its size. I have a tiny wrist, about 6.4 inches, and this watch is about max size for me. The reason it wears big is the perfect cylindrical case shape. No tapering, no rounded edges. The design of the case and dial mean this watch has a lot of wrist presence. Don't be worried it'll look too small.
![]()
![]()
![]()
I love the dial...one of the best 24 hour dials ever designed. This modern iteration is vastly improved with copious amounts of Super Luminova. This shot from the company website shows how well it glows with a full charge. I find the watch is quite readable throughout the night.
![]()
I like the watch on two levels. It is very easy to read the hours or minutes and noon is on top. Secondly, I love the clean Roland Keller inspired design. The sharp 316 stainless steel cylinder and round hooded lugs are very pleasing to the eye. The proportions are very harmonious, reminding me of the "Golden Mean" tool I used in Architecture school while designing. It's like having functional modern art on your wrist.
![]()
![]()
I currently have the watch on an old 20mm titanium Sinn bracelet which is very comfortable. The watch arrived on a deployant silicon strap, with an additional black leather strap. I'm more of a bracelet guy, and the 20mm hooded lugs allow for any strap or bracelet to fit well on this case. I appreciate the 100m/330feet water rating, which is the most I ever look for in a watch and is more than I need for my kayaking.
Another improvement is the date display, which is nicely "hidden" on the dial, but easy to find when you want to see it.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
This watch currently retails for $1,199. In my opinion that's a very good deal for this package. Mine runs within COSC specs.
I look forward to the upcoming 24 hour projects Mitch has on the burner, especially the LM2 AirNautic Pilot crossover with two timezones. I'm a huge fan of titanium :-d
Finally, I want to thank Mitch for giving 24 hour afficianados a lot to be excited about.
I used to own a Yantar AirNautic years ago, and I'm glad I finally contacted Mitch and purchased a new AirNautic AN-24 Pilot.
I've owned the watch for a week now, and have used it extensively on some late, late night flights while teaching and evaluating some new guys on F-4949 NVGs (night vision goggles).
As you can see from my current 24 hour watch collection, orange seems to be a bit of a going trend (with the custom Omega orange hands on my U.G. AeroCompax). No...I don't think a Doxa's in my immediate future ;-)
The watch has all the aesthetic beauty of the old Yantar, with some major improvements. The anti-reflective coating is applied to the underside of the flat sapphire crystal only (the Yantar has AR on top, and the slightest touch would disfigure the crystal). The size is slightly increased to 41.5mm X 11.75mm. I know the trend today is HUGENESS, but believe me, this watch wears BIG for its size. I have a tiny wrist, about 6.4 inches, and this watch is about max size for me. The reason it wears big is the perfect cylindrical case shape. No tapering, no rounded edges. The design of the case and dial mean this watch has a lot of wrist presence. Don't be worried it'll look too small.
I love the dial...one of the best 24 hour dials ever designed. This modern iteration is vastly improved with copious amounts of Super Luminova. This shot from the company website shows how well it glows with a full charge. I find the watch is quite readable throughout the night.
I like the watch on two levels. It is very easy to read the hours or minutes and noon is on top. Secondly, I love the clean Roland Keller inspired design. The sharp 316 stainless steel cylinder and round hooded lugs are very pleasing to the eye. The proportions are very harmonious, reminding me of the "Golden Mean" tool I used in Architecture school while designing. It's like having functional modern art on your wrist.
I currently have the watch on an old 20mm titanium Sinn bracelet which is very comfortable. The watch arrived on a deployant silicon strap, with an additional black leather strap. I'm more of a bracelet guy, and the 20mm hooded lugs allow for any strap or bracelet to fit well on this case. I appreciate the 100m/330feet water rating, which is the most I ever look for in a watch and is more than I need for my kayaking.
Another improvement is the date display, which is nicely "hidden" on the dial, but easy to find when you want to see it.
This watch currently retails for $1,199. In my opinion that's a very good deal for this package. Mine runs within COSC specs.
I look forward to the upcoming 24 hour projects Mitch has on the burner, especially the LM2 AirNautic Pilot crossover with two timezones. I'm a huge fan of titanium :-d
Finally, I want to thank Mitch for giving 24 hour afficianados a lot to be excited about.
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
Good points, guys. You can see in my pics above with all three watches...The AeroCompax (custom Omega) hands are thick but end at the right moment, before the arabic numerals. The Airman hands are longer, but end with the little sticks that are easy to read around.
Either one of these would make the AirNautic easier to read, since the hands are both thick and long.
It is easier reading the watch after wearing it. One thing I had to get used to was having the odd hours accented rahter than the even. Most 24 hour watches accent the even hours, which also happen to accent the major minutes hashes (five ten fifteen...)...making for a cleaner, simpler display.
You gotta love how easy the AN24 is to read at night, though
Either one of these would make the AirNautic easier to read, since the hands are both thick and long.
It is easier reading the watch after wearing it. One thing I had to get used to was having the odd hours accented rahter than the even. Most 24 hour watches accent the even hours, which also happen to accent the major minutes hashes (five ten fifteen...)...making for a cleaner, simpler display.
You gotta love how easy the AN24 is to read at night, though
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
