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Quiet Birdman Association

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tjsatter

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 15, 2002
Posts
174
Does anybody know anything about these folks?

Once upon a time my instrument instructor told me of having been invited to a meeting of these folks. It was a good story, and I immediately wanted to become associated with them somehow. But at that time the 500 hr minimum time needed was still far in the future.

They seem to be a mystery organization. I think they still exist, maybe I can ask somebody next time I go to Oshkosh?

You don't find them, they find you? How can I help them find me? Is somebody I know a QB and I don't know that? I suspect so, but I've gotten lots of puzzled looks by asking very senior pilots if they knew anything.

tj
 
Oddly enough, I flew with a captain not too long ago who mentioned this organization. You're right...they're very secretive. He didn't seem to want to divulge too much about it, saying that he would be asked to "resign" if word ever got out that he talked about it. I guess you pretty much need to happen upon somebody who is a member and get them to "sponsor" you.

I'm sorry this post isn't more helpful...I'm just as mystified as you about the organization. If nothing else, I can confirm for you that it does exist and that you are not crazy, but that's about it. Good luck!

KingAirKiddo
 
Quiet Birdmen Association

I believe the Quiet Birdmen Association is an organization of early pilots. I mean those who started flying perhaps in the 1920s and 1930s. I don't think it is any kind of secret society or anything like that, though.
 
That kind of matches what I've heard (little as it is). The "Early Birds" is (was?) an organization of pilots who flew very early on. I forget the date exactly but I think they had to have flown pre-1920-something (?) I dunno. Most of these folks have died by now.

I know the QBs still exist because they have there own area at Oshkosh. I did a google search and came up with Quiet Birdman within the obituarys of lots of historically important aviators. 10 years ago I knew a contact that could get me in but I didn't meet there requirments, now I do. Now I do but I don't know anybody.

It seems to me to be a very worthy association of aviator types and the sort of folks that I like to associate with.
 
There was an article about this association in Air and Space Smithsonian several years ago. They had a photo of their patch with a latin inscription that translated into "Birds Fly - Men Drink" of some such. Overall it looked like a lot of fun.

An elderly friend of mine was a member. He was part of the flight test community at Dayton (before Edwards).

Seems like a bunch of good folks having a good time.
 
TJ,

Read the name and you'll figure out why you can't find out anything. KingAir guy might be right. You definitely won't become a member by posting questions about it on an Internet message board!!!
 
There are quite a few QB's around, and they arn't old fellows from back in the 1920's. What do they do, "drink, and tell flying stories interspersed with a few wild parties that they then talk about for a few years.":)
 
I can tell you that they do exist and that I have had the distinct honor of having been invited to become a member. Other than that, I can't tell you more. I wasn't alive in the 20's and 30's, so I can help you with that rumor. Having read your posts on FI, I can tell you that no one is going to walk up to you and ask you to become a member.
 
QB's have "hangars" all over the country, and are quite alive and well. The QB is a social organization, and is perhaps better described as a drinking club for people who fly, more akin to the shriners than anything...and hardly a "secret organization." A newsletter is published. Just a group that doesn't tout it's own horn.
 
The guy who trained me on airplane commercial and instruments at the Peterson AFB Flying Club in 76-78 was a QB as was the chief pilot there. Both very nice guys with a wealth of experience.
 
I was invited by our chief flight instructor to a QB meeting one night. Sadly, I couldn't go (prior commitments). he told me they have meetings but nothing really happens except for drinking.
 
"Never join a club that would have you as a member."

---W.C. Fields
 
As a female, and thus ineligible, the QB's are a bunch of males pilots getting together and drinking along with telling some tall tales. I'm not sure if it pre-dated the Ninety-Nines - the female version of a a bunch of pilots getting together and telling tall tales.

You get invited, go have fun. You don't get invited, I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to get a bunch of pilot buddies together to go drinking and tell tall tales.

:beer:
 
I knew a couple of QBs while going to school in San Louis Obispo. Everyone of them was a very noce guy. I once enquired about membership and was told that "You don't ask them, they ask you".

Also, "Birds Fly, Men Drink" is the motto of the "Man Will Never Fly Society":

http://manwillneverfly.com/

Which, BTW, the membership is mostly made up of professional pilots.

"Are you a Turtle"
 
Quiet Birdmen or "QB"s as they are more commonly known are simply pilots from all walks of life. They are all treated equally by one another and for that reason Charles Lindbergh was a member. Instead of being the world's greatest or most famous pilot, he was simply "one of the boys".
He could talk aviation with those who spoke the lingo and there wasn't the need to worry about the outside world near as much. There are chapters of the "QB"s all around the country but you must be invited before you can even attend a meeting and then there is an extended "trial" period before you can become a "QB".
Click to expand...
.....
 
QB= Guys who passed their prime, history, and social acceptance (in regards to women in the workplace) All they have left is drinking and telling tall stories of remember when and as they drink the stories get taller and taller. Unlike the shriners who raise money for kids and hospital programs QB's just tell stories of what life was like back when.

Sounds like the CAP oh wait they do something other than just drink.
 
tjsatter said:
Does anybody know anything about these folks?

Once upon a time my instrument instructor told me of having been invited to a meeting of these folks. It was a good story, and I immediately wanted to become associated with them somehow. But at that time the 500 hr minimum time needed was still far in the future.

They seem to be a mystery organization. I think they still exist, maybe I can ask somebody next time I go to Oshkosh?

You don't find them, they find you? How can I help them find me? Is somebody I know a QB and I don't know that? I suspect so, but I've gotten lots of puzzled looks by asking very senior pilots if they knew anything.

tj
My grandfather was a member. Sadly, he has been dead for decades and my father passed away almost 10 years ago so, I have little to no information on how he was recruited. He was however building and flying airplanes as early as 1912. He was also friends with Tony Jannus. If you don’t know who Tony was just Google his name and read his Wikipedia article. file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/aa/10/6C313487-D543-46C6-AE29-CE64EA78A874/IMG_8505.HEIC
Click to expand...
 
This was my grandfathers membership card. He was building and flying airplanes as early as 1912. He was also a good friend of Tony Jannus, I assume anyone on this page knows who Tony Jannus is; if not, just Google his name. That’s my grandfather on the left of a plane he and a friend built.
 

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Iceman07 said:
I knew a couple of QBs while going to school in San Louis Obispo. Everyone of them was a very noce guy. I once enquired about membership and was told that "You don't ask them, they ask you".

Also, "Birds Fly, Men Drink" is the motto of the "Man Will Never Fly Society":

Man Will Never Fly Memorial Society

Which, BTW, the membership is mostly made up of professional pilots.

"Are you a Turtle"
Click to expand...
You bet your sweet ass i am!
 
I have been invited to come to meetings and am currently being sponsored. I look forward to becoming a member of a group that has as it's members great historical aviators such as Lindberg, Doolittle, and other greats. The Hangar that I attend has a lot of history too and I am in awe of those members.
 

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