Breitling Launches Five Models in the Super Avié Series Paying Homage to Four Legendary Aircraft

Breitling's latest series, the Super Avie, has added five models that pay homage to legendary aircraft. The launch campaign for the new models also attracted attention with a spectacular formation flight featuring four vintage aircraft.

Breitling's latest series, "Super Avie"

　The watch celebrates aviation history with a design inspired by the original Co-Pilot Reference 765 Avi, a pilot's watch introduced in 1953, and four legendary aircraft: the North American P-51 Mustang, the Vought F4U Corsair, the Curtiss P40 Warhawk, and the de Havilland Mosquito. Breitling CEO Georges Kern said:

"This collection embodies nostalgia for the early days of aviation, when pilot's watches were relied upon as on-board instruments. However, even those who aren't pilots or vintage aviation enthusiasts will appreciate the exceptional craftsmanship and rugged design."

　Of course, not all Breitling fans are aviation enthusiasts, but each person who owns a Breitling watch will likely find the aviation element in the unique atmosphere of the watch captivating.

　In the 1930s, Breitling's Huit Aviation division gained fame for inventing precision cockpit clocks in the early days of aviation as an industry, and 20 years later, in 1953, they introduced another revolutionary aviation instrument: the wearable wristwatch.

　The Pilot's Watch Ref. 765 Avi quickly became a star and inspiration. Beloved by many aviators, it soon became known as the "Co-Pilot," a name that conveys a sense of reliability, as it is a trusted companion in the air.

　In 2020, Breitling also celebrated the legacy of this classic chronograph with the launch of a meticulously researched and crafted re-edition: the Avie Reference 765 1953 Re-Edition. The Super Avie, part of Breitling's Classic Avie collection, was inspired by this pioneering watch.

　The release of this watch marks a century of Breitling being a brand that has shared some of aviation's greatest moments. From its brave first takeoffs to the birth of commercial aviation, Breitling's history is inseparable from that of aviation.

　The collection features five unique models celebrating four memorable and powerful aircraft. Crafted with filigree work, a delicate goldsmithing technique often used in ancient India, Iran, Greece, and the Byzantine Empire, the aircraft silhouettes are mesmerizingly displayed on the sapphire crystal caseback, showcasing the beauty of the vintage aircraft.

Super Avi B04 Chronograph GMT 46 P-51 Mustang

　The P-51 Mustang was built in just 120 days, and even its creator, North American Aviation, never anticipated the powerhouse that would be its future. The P-51's low-drag wings and engine cooling system, considered experimental when the single-seat fighter first took off in 1940, gave it unprecedented speed and range.

　This model pays homage to the greatest all-around fighter of its era. It comes in a stainless steel case with a black dial and a brown leather strap, and an 18K red gold version with an anthracite dial and a black leather strap. These models are available exclusively in Breitling boutiques and online.

Super Avi B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair

　The Vought F4U Corsair was a record-breaking naval aircraft during World War II. Despite tricky takeoffs and landings from aircraft carriers and remote makeshift airstrips, the Corsair delivered on the key promises of speed and lift, becoming the first single-engine fighter to reach a top speed of 640 km/h while also demonstrating an exceptional rate of climb.

　The curved wing design, large propeller, and distinctive coloring have become iconic in aviation history, and this model takes its design cues from that color in particular. It features a blue dial, tone-on-tone chronograph counters, and a black leather strap.

Super Avi B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Curtiss Warhawk

　Designed as a pursuit aircraft, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk first flew in 1938, proving itself to be a highly agile and capable aircraft. It wasn't just the plane's ability to pull off incredible turns that gave it its cutting edge in flight; its rugged construction allowed it to withstand harsh weather conditions and severe battle damage. The Warhawk's fearless shark-mouth nose art earned it a reputation as a rebel in the skies.

　This model features a military green dial with contrasting white chronograph counters and red accents, and of course, the fighter jet's unmistakable shark-mouth nose art design.

Super Avi B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Mosquito

　The de Havilland Mosquito was called a miracle of wooden construction, utilizing wood, which was still plentiful at the time, at a time when aluminum and steel were in widespread shortage.

　It made a big impact when it surpassed the performance of its metal contemporaries and became one of the fastest aircraft built between 1940 and 1950. Its excellent maneuverability allowed it to perform a variety of roles, including light bomber, night fighter, transport, and photographic reconnaissance aircraft.

　This model features a polished and satin-finished black ceramic bezel, contrasting white chronograph counters, and red and orange accents that evoke the portholes and markings of the all-round fighter plane known as the "Wooden Miracle."

The first attempt to have four vintage aircraft take to the skies together

　The four pilots assembled for this shoot flew in formation over Virginia Beach, flying at speeds exceeding 200 mph and less than 10 feet apart. This was the first time the four pilots had flown together, and the first time the four aircraft had flown in formation.

　Flying in a formation with vintage aircraft requires numerous qualifications, including a commercial pilot's license, a formation flight permit, a tailwheel license, an aerobatic qualification, and hundreds of hours of flight experience. Prior to the Breitling shoot, the four pilots developed a complex flight plan that not only ensured the four aircraft worked as a team, but also presented the best possible angle for the fifth aircraft, which would take the air-to-air photographs.

　Just looking at the photos makes it clear how grand and impressive this project was, and what an irreplaceable experience it must have been for the pilots.