by Tyler Frederick
Legacy from the skies
Since I was a kid, I’ve always had a deep interest in history, specifically the First and Second World Wars and the Cold War, thanks to my grandfather, who served in the British military. As I got older, my interest grew stronger in aviation and the beautiful planes and air divisions. Having deep roots in British heritage, I’ve always adored the RAF and planes such as the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, and the Miles Master. Funny enough, the watch on my wrist is from AVI-8, a brand inspired by all things air and aviation, and the watch in question pays tribute to a branch of the RAF: the Eagle Squadron. Join me as I check out this beautiful bronze beauty: the Flyboy Eagle Squadron 85th Anniversary Limited Edition.
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The Eagle Squadrons
In 1940, a small group of American pilots joined the RAF to assist England in the fight against the German forces, leading to the creation of three fighter units, the Eagle Squadrons, which would assist their British allies in bomber and air combat missions until 1942, when the American pilots were transferred back to the United States Air Force. While it was a short run, the Eagle Squadrons worked to change the tides from a defensive to an offensive stance, which played a significant role against the German Luftwaffe and helped solidify an Allied victory. This is an extremely condensed explanation; the full story is fascinating, so feel free to look it up.
Key Features of the AVI-8 Flyboy Eagle Squadron 85th Anniversary Limited Edition
Pilot’s watches
Watches have such a beautiful way of carrying on the design languages of the past while also reminding us of history and times gone by. From a military perspective, they serve as reminders of the men and women who fought to keep lands and lives safe. The design language for the Flyboy Eagle Squadron, as you can expect, is a pilot’s watch that calls back to times when pilots heavily relied on the time for air operations, managing fuel, implementing synchronized maneuvers, and determining when to drop cargo or bombardments, or as an emotional support tool by setting the time to back home for that connection to somewhere much less chaotic.
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Case dimensions and wearability
Wearing a watch like this is always a bit odd for me, as I don’t have much personal connection to the military. However, that doesn’t always matter; I love the Speedmaster, and I’ve never been to space. I love divers, and I sit at a desk for the most part; not much diving is done in my life, except down a different rabbit hole for a new interest once or twice a week. My experience while wearing it has been good for the most part, with some slight discomforts that made the wearing experience a bit less enjoyable. From a sizing perspective, it’s great, measuring 39mm in diameter with a 48.5mm lug-to-lug and a case thickness of 15mm. I’m used to pilot’s watches being on the larger side, around 41-42mm, while Big Pilots can range from 43-46mm, so having one in 39mm was refreshing and felt more comfortable to wear than the standard; one that I think a pilot would enjoy wearing over the sleeve of his bomber jacket or uniform. It feels very proportionate and decently balanced on my wrist, and while it’s a little on the thick side, that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment. I’ve noticed a trend lately of watches that have been quite thick or quite thin; I prefer to lean more towards the thin side, especially if the watch is implementing a movement like the Miyota 8215, which is only around 6mm thick.
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Dial
The dial is unique from the standard pilot, featuring bright yellow numerals on a grey to black sunburst foreground, creating the perfect contrast and allowing for excellent legibility. For additional detail, the Eagle Squadron “E.S.” is in the 12 o’clock position along with the Eagle emblem at 3 o’clock and the unique implementation of the date display at 9 o’clock. While I don’t usually like date windows, I did appreciate the change up and having the date moved across the dial. Due to the “E.S.” and eagle emblems already placed on the dial, the date window just belongs and doesn’t create a break in the design as traditional date windows would. Above the 6 is a scroll with the inscription, “First from the eyries,” which refers to the American pilots leaving their nests to fight in Europe–a beautiful tribute. It’s a busy dial, but not to the point of being overwhelming or cramped; it’s a whole lot of nods, but well executed nods.
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SPECS
| Case | Bronze 39mm Diameter 48.5mm Lug to Lug 15mm Thick 20mm Lug Width 50m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Crystal /w AR Sunburst Dial Pencil & Baton Handset Luminous Markers |
| Movement | Miyota 8215 Automatic 21 Jewels 21,600 vph 40-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Black Genuine Leather |
AVI-8 Flyboy Eagle Squadron 85th Anniversary Limited Edition
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Quibbles
While it is a beautiful watch, the overall thickness of the case threw me off. As I mentioned before, the thickness of the Miyota 8215 is around 6mm, while the thickness of the Flyboy Eagle Squadron is 15mm. With the use of the Miyota, that 15mm could probably be shaved down to 10mm or 11mm, which would make for an even better wearing experience. The diameter and lug-to-lug dimensions help compensate for the sizing a lot, but I would love to see a thinner version. While the yellow indices are a great option for contrast against the dial, white indices would have been better. The yellow clashes slightly with the bronze, but this is a very nitpicky comment. Also, the watch has a black dial but comes on a blue leather strap; black would have been appreciated, but I did appreciate the additional leather NATO.
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Final Thoughts
The AVI-8 Flyboy Eagle Squadron Automatic Bronze 85th Anniversary Limited Edition is a beautiful nod to watches found on the wrists of WWII pilots and a great tribute to those who risked their lives and safety in the skies to keep our land and lives safe. It offers a comfortable wearing experience with plenty of detail to get lost in, and with that bronze case, it serves as a canvas to patina your life, memories, and milestones into. While it is on the thicker side, it was enjoyable to experience. If you’re a fan of aviation, WWII history, or both, I think this is a watch you’d enjoy not only wearing but also learning about the men who inspired it.
Pricing & Availability
Check out the AVI-8 Flyboy Eagle Squadron Automatic Bronze 85th Anniversary Limited Edition. They’re limited to 175 pieces per colourway (three colours available) and retail for $460 USD ($631 CAD). Thank you for taking the time to read yet another one of my reviews! Wherever you’re reading from, have a fantastic morning, afternoon, or evening, and I’ll see you in the next one.
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About the author
Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.
Off The Cuff articles are full-length, hands-on reviews of the watch in question and represent the opinion of the author only. All photos are original, unless specified otherwise. If you would like to have your watch reviewed on this site, contact us here.
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