Just released from AVI-8, the P-51 Mustang Patriot Automatic Tuskegee Airmen 85th Anniversary Limited Edition commemorates the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and their impact on American military aviation. The Tuskegee Airmen represent an early step toward a racially integrated U.S. military, beginning with the activation of the 99th Pursuit Squadron in 1941, the first all-Black aviation unit in the United States Army Air Corps.
Undeniably an AVI-8 watch in its bold design language, this release draws heavily from the color palette and vintage aesthetics of the P-51C Mustang aircraft, a WWII-era long-range fighter contemporary to the formation of the Tuskegee Airmen. Between the matte black dial and bold primary-colored accents, the watch has a strong wrist presence, reinforced by its size. The stainless steel case measures 43mm in diameter with a 14mm thickness and a 51mm lug-to-lug span.
Power comes from a Japanese automatic movement with three hands and a date display. The Miyota movement is visible through a custom exhibition caseback, decorated with elements referencing the P-51C’s distinctive red and yellow nose markings. Staying true to its functional roots as an aviation watch, the watch features Swiss Super-LumiNova indices and a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
Released during Black History Month, the P-51 Mustang Patriot Automatic brings those design elements and historical references together in a pitch-perfect commemoration of the Tuskegee Airmen. With this particular timepiece, AVI-8 is showing us that African-American history is American history and one that deserves recognition, too.
The P-51 Mustang Patriot Automatic Tuskegee Airmen 85th Anniversary Limited Edition is available now for $350, with each of the 400 limited-edition watches coming in a special collectors’ box. Shipping begins March 6. More information can be found at AVI-8’s website.
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