Garmin announced earlier this week that it would soon be releasing a new aviator watch to succeed the popular D2 Pilot Watch. This second-generation wrist-worn GPS navigator improves on the previous model by adding several new features and lots of style. Called the Garmin D2 Bravo Pilot Watch, this sleek GPS watch does just about everything you could want it to and then some.
“Whether you’re a pilot looking for a back-up navigator to supplement your flying with valuable alerts and flight plan data or you’re an aviation enthusiast interested in a practical timepiece to view valuable in-flight information, D2 Bravo encompasses a number of exclusive features tailored to those living a jetsetter lifestyle,” said Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation marketing and sales in a statement.
The D2 Bravo Pilot GPS Watch was designed specifically with pilots in mind and features a super fast GPS fix with an estimated 20 hours of battery life while in GPS mode. In regular watch mode, it is expected to have a battery life of around six weeks. The device functions half as a smartwatch and half as a GPS watch. The customizable, sunlight-readble watch face can show any number of fields including GPS ground speed, GPS track, distance, altitude, estimated time enroute, bearing, glide ratio and more.
As far as actual GPS features, the watch offers timed vibration alerts for altitude or other time-sensitive activities, a built-in altimeter with an adjustable barometric setting, a compass with an HSI and moving map display and “direct-to” and “nearest” functions for easy and fast navigation. The watch includes a worldwide airport database, but also allows custom setting of waypoints with a Mark on Target function. The watch can also record relevant flight data and integrate with some of Garmin’s action camera products.
And, as if all of that wasn’t enough, the device can also sync with a smartphone to show routine weather reports (METARs) on the watch face as well as other notifications like email and text alerts. The watch, of course, also can double as a fitness or activity tracker for various activities like bicycling, running, swimming and more.
The D2 Bravo Pilot GPS Watch is slated for release in July 2015 and expected to retail for around $600. When you consider all it can do, I’d say that’s actually a pretty good deal. Check out Garmin’s website or watch the video below for more information.
