Oris has created numerous specialist watches in its long history, but few have been designed with such a specific purpose as this watch. The watch marks only the second time the Swiss Air Force has worked with a Swiss watch company. The Paradropper LT Staffel 7 Limited Edition has been designed for pilots of the Swiss Air Force's Lufttransport Staffel 7 whose task is to transport paratroopers to a designated drop zone in the Pilatus PC-6 aircraft. The timings of these missions are critical. The watch meets these two challenges:
Timing for paradropping missions
• At take-off the pilot adjusts the bi-directional rotating black ceramic bezel so that the 'Y' position on its timer scale is aligned with the minute hand. The pilot now has 20 minutes to reach the drop area
• When the minute hand aligns with the yellow marker at 17 minutes the pilot informs the paratroopers to prepare to jump
• A red marker at 19 minutes indicates to the pilot that he can give clearance to open the aircraft door
• At 20 minutes a parachute icon indicates that it is time for the paratroopers to jump
Measuring landing areas
• The watch has a chronograph function with a green central seconds hand. As a pilot approaches a potential landing area, he starts the chronograph
• The pilot flies over the airfield at exactly 100 knots, once in both directions
• If the time it takes to cover the airfield at that speed is measured at 10 seconds or more, the pilot knows the airfield is at least 250 metres long and that it is therefore safe to land
• The 10-second mark is indicated by a green marker and the markings 100 KIAS (Knots Indicated Air Speed)
Technical Specifications:
The case, in titanium black DLC, measures 44mm. It has a domed AR-coated sapphire crystal and it is water resistant to 100 meters. Stainless steel crown and pushers. Bi-directional rotating black ceramic bezel with rubber coated outside edge and with special timer scale adapted to the operations schedule of the Swiss Air Force's LT Staffel 7. Caseback engraved with the LT Staffel 7 logo and limited edition number
Movement is the Swiss automatic Oris caliber 774 (base Sellita SW500) with 25 jewels, 28,800 vph and a power reserve of 48 hours. Functions are: hours, minutes, sub-seconds. Central chronograph seconds hands, minute and hour totalizers. Date.
It has a two-piece matte black dial with applied Arabic numerals printed with SuperLuminova. Dial ring with landing field measuring scale directly assembled to the case. Black/White hour and minute hands filled with SuperLuminova. Green central stop seconds hand, black/white counter and small seconds hands.
It comes on an olive textile strap with Oris-patented stainless steel buckle black DLC coated for stageless length adjustment.
It is delivered in a special presentation box. MSRP is 3,850 Swiss Francs.
Messages: 1178 Location: Connecticut
Registered: July 2012
Quite cool looking
Tue, 27 March 2018 17:24
Though like many of its type, too big for me of course. I really like the Oris big crown pilot series. I wish the more complicated versions were available in the smaller case.
Messages: 11383 Location: Minnesota
Registered: July 2005
I like the overall design, but bothered by:
Tue, 27 March 2018 18:12
--The extremely detailed scale on the subdials, that are covered by the 6 and 12. I would have preferred the subdials be kept intact.
--Would have loved to have seen the date at 3, and the Oris logo shifted to accommodate. Plenty of room.
--I don't hate the HOURS and MINUTES, but maybe HR. and MIN. would have been a little cleaner.
Maybe I am being critical because it looks really good, I do like the design a lot!
JLC Master Control Automatic :: Rolex Explorer I :: Omega Speedmaster Professional :: Ball for BMW GMT :: Archimede Pilot
I like the thin rotating bezel, the overall military look,
Wed, 28 March 2018 00:34
large graphics etc. I like it when manufacturers treat watches as more-or-less necessary extensions of ones daily tasks, rather than overtly theatrical or clownish looking.
Oris have been making great pieces in the pilot watch area recently. I like many of the Big Crown range. Not sure they are overtaking IWC yet, but I am considering a few of their range as a next purchase. The new worldtimer is particularly interesting.
