Check out the results of Samsung’s high-flying initiatives below.

The First Smartwatch Trusted by Aviators

The world of aviation has historically inspired exceptional examples of watchmaking. Samsung’s Gear S3 frontier Special Edition, the first smartwatch to be associated with military aeronautics, is the latest product of this innovative history.

The Gear S3’s IP68 dust and water resistance and military-grade durability distinguish the device as capable of adapting to the requirements of military missions. The PoAF’s special edition enhances that utility with an exclusive watch face – one that combines exceptional functionality with aesthetic cues that celebrate the tradition and innovation of the Portuguese Air Force.

The watch face features a design based on specifications provided by pilots across PoAF divisions. The black dial displays the time, date, day of the week and month, and includes a display for UTC/Zulu time, the worldwide reference time zone for pilots, at 9 o’clock.

The numerals are written in the same font that the PoAF has historically used for the tail numbers of its aircraft. In addition, to honor the anniversary, the 6 and 5 are highlighted either in gold or in the colors of the Portuguese flag, and may be customized to suit the user’s preference. At the top of the dial, in place of the 12, are the PoAF’s symbol – a stylized eagle – and the inscription, “Portuguese Air Force”.

Although it was originally designed exclusively for use by PoAF pilots, the watch face is currently available to download via the Gear App Store.*

Taking Flight with the Gear VR

Over the course of several months, Samsung Electronics Portugal, the Portuguese Air Force and Impresa Media Group shot a series of virtual reality films that allow viewers to experience the sheer exhilaration that comes with piloting a state-of-the-art aircraft.

The films were recorded with Samsung Gear 360 cameras and showcased at the PoAF’s 65th anniversary exhibit in Castelo Branco, two hours’ drive from the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. Upon strapping on Samsung’s Gear VR headset, attendees at the event were transported into the cockpits of Alpha-Jet instruction fighters, Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopters and F-16 AM fighter jets.

By creating an experience that’s as close as can be to actually stepping into the cockpit of a supersonic aircraft, the immersive footage allowed attendees to experience the thrill and beauty of flying for themselves.

*Availability may vary depending on market

The enhanced solution was implemented just in time for the league’s semi-finals, and will help referees officiate January 29’s championship match, which will decide which squad will take home the 2016 CTT Cup and be crowned Winter Champion.

In the first stage of the e-Liga project, Samsung designed an app for the Galaxy Tab S and Tab S2 tablets that eliminated the need for paper when filing match reports. As of this writing, more than 2,500 referees have utilized the app to streamline reports for some 419 matches.

The e-Liga app for the Gear S3 allows referees to easily report a match’s pertinent data as it unfolds through an intuitive touch interface designed specifically for the project.

Once the final whistle blows, rather than spend upwards of an hour working on completing and faxing paperwork, referees may simply pair their Gear S3 with the Tab S2, transfer and review that match’s data, and wirelessly submit their official match report to Liga Portugal, all in a matter of seconds.

Before e-Liga’s introduction, referees were required to hand-write game reports after each match, in what was quite an anachronistic and time-consuming practice. Samsung Electronics, as an official technological partner of Liga Portugal, accepted the challenge of transforming this reality.

For Frederico Paiva, Director of Samsung Electronics Portugal’s Sales and Marketing Division, this latest digitized mobile app solution is “part of Samsung’s continuous efforts to link our technology with differentiating experiences, bringing football closer to fans of all ages.”