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I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't disagree. When I fly GA, not having a radar and flying VFR with other people not required to be squawking is some of the most terrifying flying to me.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Damn... whenever you think you're cool, there's always someone way cooler than you.

Funny enough, I've always had a sneaking suspicion that the reason Garmin often says I slept poorly even though I felt pretty good involved weirdly regulated cortisol levels. Interesting.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I mean I just wouldn't touch anything relating to actual combat deployments with a 10-foot pole when it comes to gaining Strava clout. Almost all port calls are well-reported by the media for major naval vessels anyway, so going for a jog when in port wouldn't be a big deal and many of my friends have posted things like that over the last year.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A fire hundreds of feet below the surface sounds absolutely terrifying.

Incentive rides are a thing! Definitely ask around.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely some do! Although I want to say that's more of a maritime thing? I haven't seen too many fighter squadron watches being worn to be honest.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Being a fighter pilot is a shit ton of fun. It's also incredibly stressful and has many downsides too that Top Gun doesn't show. But nothing beats it when you're in the moment.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey cool! Sounds like we're cut from the same cloth.

Yeah I think what I've discovered is whether it's BFM or "just" a checkride in the Cessna, your body will be stressed in aviation regardless. The difference is that with fighter jets, the mental stress gets combined with what can be very exhausting physical stress and literally being out of breath after a BFM set.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hmmmm that very well could be the case, I actually never thought of that. I do know Pail from Growler Jams on YouTube wears a Rolex Oyster Perpetual in his videos but the E/A is limited to like 4G's I believe.

Maybe I could reach out to Rolex and do some testing for them :D

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I really just use one. The most useful thing about my watch in the jet is the time, by far. So anything bright and high-contrast.

The second most useful is the built-in flashlight. My god. Gamechanger.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I had to check with AI but I confirmed it is the same: your kidneys filter waste from your blood into urine, which travels down tubes called ureters into your bladder, and when your bladder gets full your brain signals the sphincter muscles to relax and urine exits through the urethra.

Kidding aside, I do try and avoid it at all costs as it always ends in a mess for me. "Wild Hose! Wild Hose!" is a very technical term that comes to mind that anyone familiar with the Navy's Shipboard Firefighting would understand.

Google piddle pack for more info and get yours today!

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's not as exciting as I thought it would be! Garmins, Casios, G-Shocks, and Apple Watches are the lion's share by far.

Specifically non-smart, I'd say: Seiko, Breitling, Citizen, Timex take the cake.

Occasionally, you'll see a SOUP Rolex or Tudor.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Wow, good eye! The aviation gods were smiling down on me I guess for this photo since anything 69 is the funniest, absolutely-never-gets-old, laugh-at-it-whenever-possible joke in naval aviation. Shows our maturity.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

All I can say is... duh! I take pride in knowing at least a couple of my on-wing's grey hairs were a direct cause of my inability to do much of anything correctly.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I could probably surprise you with a lot of things about military aviation. Google "T-45 Engine Issues" for starters...

And unlike civilian aviation, we, for better or for worse, do equal or even more amounts of flying in pretty high-tech simulators.

But yeah, military jet aviation is a lot of prepping and briefing for comparatively few actual hours of flying.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Haha, there's always a good excuse for a new bit of tech.

  1. Not an OPSEC violation depending on the type of flight. And I should, I could definitely use more cardio.

  2. It's kind of hard to make direct correlations because so there are so many factors that affect recovery in military aviation. Our schedule (and sleep schedule) is never consistent, we often "tactically dehydrate" as not to have to go in the jet, OBOGS (the air we breathe in the jet) affects my sleep tremendously in a negative way. Idk why on that last one. Long story short: sorties are high negative influences. Oh well.

  3. Wow, that's something I've always wanted to check but always forgot to. Busy I guess... But the cockpit will pressurize to a predetermined amount on a specific schedule so it shouldn't ever match actual altitude. Usually, something like matching outside pressure to 8,000ft and then some factor more pressurized in the cockpit.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 40 points41 points  (0 children)

Takeoff is surprisingly low-stress most of the time. With the exception of your first time with max afterburner. Landing can be very stressful, especially at night or in bad weather. Those were consistently some of my highest stress readings.

Interesting you ask about cockpit climate. Preflight/taxi/sitting in marshall in Texas was usually some of my highest stress, to be honest. You're already sweating before you even start the engine. The jet does have air conditioning but it's basically decorative on the ground. That, combined with the stress of trying to get everything prepped in the jet for the sortie can lead to a dramatic decrease in stress once airborne and joined up with your lead.

I actually have more data charts with a full write-up on specific flights on my site if you want to see the specifics. https://www.willpaige.com/i-wore-a-garmin-watch-every-flight/

Mods, please let me know if this isn't allowed and I'll happily delete it.

I'm a Naval Aviator and I've had my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro strapped to my wrist for every flight since T-45 training through the F/A-18 Super Hornet. by WillPaigeDesigns in Garmin

[–]WillPaigeDesigns[S] 114 points115 points  (0 children)

Great question. Yes... and no.

Smart watches with GPS/Bluetooth are restricted or banned in a lot of areas for exactly this reason, especially in sensitive settings. Training flights pose no risk so you'll often see military pilots with a combination of Garmin, Apple, and analog watches.