On the pilots of the French Naval Air Force's request, Bell & Ross is producing two Limited Series of 150 pieces of the Pilot chronograph specially designed for aerial navigation.

A functional watch, the Type Aéronavale proudly sports the colours of the “Chasse embarquée”.

Produced in two Limited Series of 150 copies, the Type Aéronavale is offered in acrylic glass (ultra-domed synthetic glass in reference to spcifications from the 50's) or in sapphire glass.



Easy to read in the daytime as well as a night thanks to its black matt dial with its photoluminescent hands and anti-reflection glass, the Type Aéronavale is worn by these exceptional pilots as the emblem of their squadron.




History

The French Navy has an element at its disposal that few other nations have. It has often been able to assess its usefulness while sailing the seven seas: it’s the carrier-based air force.

Nowadays, Rafale, Modernised Super Etendard and Hawkeye are the spearheads on these floating towns that are aircraft carriers, the latest addition being the «Charles de Gaulle».

The air and sea forces were born on 14 November 1910 when a Curtiss biplane took off from a ramp fitted out on the American cruiser «Birmingham». Their progress was quick. The steam-powered catapult, invented in 1912, enables all cruisers to be equipped with reconnaissance and observation aircrafts.




During World War 1, it was discovered that the planes, originally intended for Navy reconnaissance and patrolling only, could have a whole series of offensive uses: attack missions on other ships, troops or shore installations using cannons, bombs or torpedoes. At the same time, some long-range aircrafts, seaplanes and airships demonstrated their efficiency as submarine hunters. In 1918 the French Naval Air Force already had nearly 1600 aircrafts and 36 bases. So in 1945 the Air Command became the fleets’ essential weapon, rendering heavily armed cruisers obsolete.

Today the French Naval Air Force has 162 aircrafts of which 138 are combat aircrafts, and 6800 people, civilians and military.

Six naval bases (BAN), five in France and one overseas, support its squadrons, fleets and training centres. The Naval Air Force is the natural embodiment of all air forces relating to the Navy. It has four main components: The aircraft carrier’s Air Group; The Maritime Patrol Air Force; The aircraft carrier’s helicopters; The support naval air forces.

The Naval Air Group (GAE) on the «Charles de Gaulle» aircraft carrier is formed from units from French Naval Air Force bases in Landivisiau (Finistère) and Lann-Bihoué (Morbihan). It is made up of: 2 Air Combat Commands (11F, 17F); 1 Air Interception Command (12F) ; 1 Air Patrol Command (4F) and 1 Training and Mission Briefing Centre (CEIPM). These commands manage dissuasion missions, force projection and naval air superiority.

One type of plane corresponds to each mission:
The modernised Super-Etendard (11F, 17F) is used for maritime and land attack missions, sea and land tactical reconnaissance and nuclear dissuasion.
The E-2C Hawkeye (tactical airborne warning aircraft - 4F) provides all-weather airborne early warning and command and control functions for the carrier battle group. The Rafale F1 (12F) is in charge of air superiority missions.

Source: Bell & Ross

www.bellross.com

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