A Flyback Chronograph is a type of chronograph watch that allows the user to reset the stopwatch hand to zero and immediately restart it with a single press of a button, without the need to stop the chronograph first.
A flyback chronograph allows instant reset and restart with a single pusher press, rather than requiring three separate actions (stop, reset, start). Originally developed for pilots needing rapid lap timing without fumbling controls, pressing the reset pusher simultaneously stops the running time, resets to zero, and immediately restarts timing.
A standard chronograph requires three separate pusher presses to time consecutive laps: stop, reset, restart. A flyback requires only one press—the bottom pusher simultaneously performs all three actions. This saves precious seconds in applications like aerial navigation where timing must be seamlessly continuous without operational delays.
Breguet pioneered flyback development historically. Notable modern flyback chronographs include the Breguet Type XX, Longines Avigation, IWC Pilot Spitfire, Zenith El Primero Chronomaster, and Patek Philippe 5170G. The complication is associated with aviation heritage and is typically found in mid-to-high-end chronograph collections.