Just Landed: The Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Tribute To Vought F4U Corsair Watch

The new Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Tribute To Vought F4U Corsair watch by Breitling offers a downsized stainless steel case of 42mm with a special engraved caseback that is sealed to a 100-meter water-resistant case. More compact in size, it still honours the iconic Vought F40 aircraft perfectly long with Breitling’s iconic 1950s AVI 765 reference.

Breitling has inseparable links to the aeronautical industry and has dedicated years of its expertise towards creating reliable instruments for the cockpit. It first began creating onboard chronographs during the 1930s. Such examples are the analogue cockpit clocks utilized in RAF icons like the Spitfire fighter and Lancaster bomber. One particularly significant flight instrument goes by the nickname of the “Co-Pilot”. The Ref. 765 AVI pilot’s watch became an instant hit because it provided pilots with a wrist-worn tool for accurate timekeeping whilst in the cockpit. The special “Co-Pilot” watch has since been revisited recently with the release of Breitling’s Super AVI series, released back in 2021. Within this series was the Super AVI Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair watch, with blue tone-on-tone registers.

Breitling Creative Director Sylvain Berneron explained the compelling appeal behind these watches; “Our watchmaking DNA is what dominates here, while the interpretations of the four aircraft give the series its emotion and bold graphic appeal. Taken together, these elements evoke the spirit of early flight. We can’t forget that Breitling pioneered aviation tool watches like the Ref. 765 AVI. That heritage is so strong, we had to not only keep it intact, but rewrite it for the 21st century.”

The Vought 4FU Corsair

The Breitling Super AVI Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair, released back in 2021 was directly inspired by the iconic aircraft from which it takes its name. The Vought F4U Corsair was designed specifically for tricky landings and take-offs. Its development began in 1938. Vought Aircraft’s Chief Engineer, Rex Biesel produced a prototype, featuring inverted gull wings that gave the aircraft a distinct look when viewed head-on. The Navy was sold on her when she broke the speed record for a single-seat fighter aircraft by exceeding 400 miles per hour in level flight. In 1943 she entered combat and was flown as an attack aircraft in support of ground forces. The Vought F4U Corsair was known for its powerful engine, its speed, ruggedness and firepower, which brings us to the design of the new Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair watch.

The new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Tribute To Vought F4U Corsair watch

The new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Tribute To Vought F4U Corsair watch is a true pilot’s watch that has been designed to withstand the conditions in a vintage cockpit and for that reason is designed in honour of the brand’s 1950s ref. 765 AVI pilot’s watch. The model released in 2021 was larger in size, measuring a beefy 46mm diameter and featured a blue tone-on-tone chronograph model with an additional GMT function. The signature blue livery of the Vought F4U Corsair was perfectly captured across the display of the watch, in much the same way that this new 2023 model is and its case came complete with an easy-grip oversized crown at 3 o’clock engraved with the famous Breitling logo. The back of the case featured a sapphire crystal glass exhibition caseback for viewing the movement at work. It featured an image of the Vought F4U Corsair aircraft upon its surface. In addition to this, the case was fitted with a screw-down crown with two gaskets, as well as a knurled bidirectional ratcheted bezel.

The movement placed on show was the Breitling Manufacture B04. This self-winding engine is capable of producing an impressive 70-hour power reserve and beats to the rhythm of 28,800 vibrations per hour. Equipped with bidirectional winding, a vertical clutch and a column wheel, the COSC-certified B04 Calibre delivers superior mechanical performance, and non-stop accuracy whether strapped to the wrist or not.

The new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Tribute To Vought F4U Corsair watch puts a universal spin on the original 45mm models of the Super AVI watch series. Without the inner 24-hour scale, the watch is offered in stainless steel with a mix of brushed and polished finishes and a steel screwed-in caseback that replaces the previous sapphire crystal glass exhibition caseback. Of course, smaller in size, the new Classic AVI watch is easier to wear on smaller-sized wrists and is more compact in design but still features a screwed-in crown and a specially engraved image of an aircraft on its caseback. Similar to the larger model released a couple of years ago, the new chronograph is water-resistant to 100 meters and features a bidirectional rotating bezel that is easy to grip under heavy flight gear.

The top of the case of this new Classic AVI watch is sealed with a piece of anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass and the model comes with a choice of two straps. You can choose between a sophisticated stainless steel link bracelet with a mix of polished and brushed links that elevate the timepiece to something very classic and dressy by night, or enjoy it on a comfortable and durable black calf leather strap. The latter is adorned with contrast stitching running down the sides and secures with a steel folding clasp as opposed to a butterfly clasp on the metal bracelet. Either way, you get the iconic Breitling logo etched into the surface of the buckle to finish the timepiece beautifully.

Inside the robust case of the new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Tribute To Vought F4U Corsair watch is the Calibre 23, which produces 28,800 vibrations per hour and delivers a power reserve of 48 hours once fully wound. The movement controls the central chronograph seconds, hand, the hours and the minutes as well as an additional 12-hour chronograph function located at 6 o’clock on the dial and a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, not to mention running seconds at 9 o’clock.

If you’d like more details on the new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair watch, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453.