a secret all male pilot's fraternity?? the quiet birdmen??

[tom d. friedman]

reading the latest issue of "aviation history" magazine. a great issue!! 1 of the articles mentions "YE ANCIENT AND SECRET ORDER OF QUIET BIRDMEN" a secret all male organization of pilots that was founded in 1921. the organization is still active today & membership is by invitation only. what's up w/ this fraternity?? who are some members known, what are they all about?? who is the grand poohbah?? how come the ladies haven't squawked for membership??

[Taylor Stevenson]

My Dad's a member. Invite only. They have chapters across the nation and have a magazine called Beam that basically just has the updates from the chapters, etc.

[JDK]

how come the ladies haven't squawked for membership??

Maybe the 99s is the alternative?

http://www.ninety-nines.org/

[tom d. friedman]

excellent point james!! but i'm still wondering what this group is about!!! me-109 me -109 please enlighten me!! 1st i've ever heard of it.

[Steve Nelson]

I first heard of them when they had a little fly-in barbecue at our local airport last fall. Not exactly quiet when a half dozen T-6s, a MiG-15, couple L-39s, F4U-4 and some T-34s all blow into town!

SN

[David_Aiken]

QB membership requirement includes flying a aircraft powered by a particular antique engine or working on such an engine...

IIRC it was the engine on a JENNY.

[Jerry O'Neill]

I was once a quest of one of the QB's at a meeting at the New England Air Museum.
I wish I cold've been invited to join. I had a great time with a real neat bunch of guys.
Jerry

[Enemy Ace]

sorry david aiken I believe you are incorrect.
Invitation to join is held very tightly, if your name is put up it is a great honor.

[Second Air Force]

David, you may have been thinking of the OX-5 Club. I was fortunate to have met a member of that group a number of years ago.

Scott

[B25PBYGUY]

One also would not be asked to become a member after a single meeting.
You would be asked to return for a requisite number of meetings with a host sponsor, prior to be submitted to the membership for a vote.

[T33driver]

Tom,

Does it count if the women at a QB meeting were hired as the entertainment?

[k5083]

None of you read the column in Flying a few months ago by the female columnist who infiltrated the QB disguised as a man?

August

[JDK]

None of you read the column in Flying a few months ago by the female columnist who infiltrated the QB disguised as a man?

Disguise: BIG watch.

Reminds me of the old joke about a pilot...

How do you know if there's a Quiet Birdman in the room? They'll say they can't tell you. Repeatedly.

[tulsaboy]

They used to be not quite so quiet... I have a photo of the Winnie Mae sitting in front of Tulsa Municipal Airport, with Wiley Post walking towards the terminal, and a QB flag is flying from the flagpole...

I've also seen QB coffee mugs, wings, plaques etc. Some chapters aren't all that shy about talking...

kevin

[airknocker]

Attended several meetings as a guest. I was told you needed 500 hrs flight time to be considered just for an invite. Members were usually professional pilots of all stripes: military, airline, corporate, FBOs, CFIs, etc,. With liquid refreshments flowing many yarns were spun and quite entertaining. Once listened to the late Dave Fox of Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome describe his experiences in all sorts of vintage types and meeting WWI pilots at the 'Drome.
There use to be a QB tent at OSH for members only.