Quiet Birdmen

I know several of them at Camarillo Airport. Great bunch of guys.
 
Probably depends on the chapter. Generally speaking, you can't just go and ask to join. You have to be asked by someone who you probably already know pretty well. Tends to be a lot of old-timers who like to drink and look at naked women. Sounds pretty good, eh?
 
Somedudeintn said:
So is it really a "secret", or is it just a club for very experienced and well respected aviators?
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From what I know it's a club for pilots. You have to meet a certain hour mark. You must have a member sponsor you to join. As far as secret, I don't know, I am not a member just friends with several.
 
Somedudeintn said:
So is it really a "secret", or is it just a club for very experienced and well respected aviators?
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Well seeing as they are on wiki I think we can say the cats out of the bag haha
 
Somedudeintn said:
So is it really a "secret", or is it just a club for very experienced and well respected aviators?
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Not sure about the very experienced or well respected part. I went years ago and it was lots of drunks, two or three strippers who rated about a 6 or 7 and finally beat it. Never went back. Sort of like a souped up frat party I thought.
 
The worldly will never tire of exclusivity. I can't even get a Mason or Moose lodge to look at me. The Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses won't have me! Catholics or Protestants not a chance. I have no country club or even homeowners association affiliation. I finally decided that not belonging was my normal. I have achieved a level of awesomeness all by myself without a membership card, wait, I did join the AOPA.
Never mind.
 
Squirrel, we miss your humor at Mooneyspace. We will even let you "join" or. It as suits your fancy!
 
Sleepingsquirrel said:
The worldly will never tire of exclusivity. I can't even get a Mason or Moose lodge to look at me. The Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses won't have me! Catholics or Protestants not a chance. I have no country club or even homeowners association affiliation. I finally decided that not belonging was my normal. I have achieved a level of awesomeness all by myself without a membership card, wait, I did join the AOPA.

Never mind.
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I'm wondering what you did to **** off the Moose Lodge. I figure pretty much if you know how to drink beer and play bingo, you're a shoe-in there. (One grandfather was a Secretary for one for twenty years. Other than bang out a newsletter every month on his Underwood typewriter and then mimeograph it, later photocopy it, and mail it, I can't imagine they turned anyone away as a member, ever.) He also knew how to fix the Bingo machine when it broke. LOL!

HOAs, all you have to do is buy the property encumbered with their stupidity and you'll be forced to join or enjoy a lien on your property for dues.

My HOA just sent out their annual newsletter. It noted that they haven't had a quorum since 2003. Perfect HOA, really.
 
denverpilot said:
I'm wondering what you did to **** off the Moose Lodge. I figure pretty much if you know how to drink beer and play bingo, you're a shoe-in there.
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I suspect this all started when I failed to Join the Order of the Arrow 30 years ago. I was tapped with a feather during a magnificent fiery ceremony but failed to follow through. Hey! I now can't even work up a membership in the VFW.
Seems all these organizations have some kind of secret handshake which escapes me. AOPA seems to be happy with my auto renewal for the time being.:D
 
What happens at their meetings stays at their meetings. Mostly older pilots ,who enjoy drinking,jokes and younger naked women. They have a building at sun n fun,and do lunch for members daily. At one time you could buy draft beer when the show was on.
 
I had the masons heavily try to recruit me at an event I was at that rented out one of their halls (this I thought was immensely humerous because it was the Washington DC Area Hash House Harriers Red Dress Run which essentially is one giant boozefest disguised as a running event).

I'm more of a raucous birdman anyhow.

Many years ago there was a group of ham radio operators called 10-10 international. To join you had to work 10 members on the 10 meter band and submit there membership numbers (10-10 numbers) of those you worked to join. The local group was so comically screwed up politically that I spoofed making the 2-2 International club. If you attested that you worked 2 people on 2 meters (didn't need to be club member), I'd send you a certificate with your membership and number. It took people a little bit to notice that everybody got the same membership number (it was always 2).
 
I understand that it is more about drinking than anything else. I don't drink so I have little interest in it.
 
Sounds like a club that husbands try to keep a secret from their wives... And make them think they are going to a flying meeting!
 
Sleepingsquirrel said:
The worldly will never tire of exclusivity. I can't even get a Mason or Moose lodge to look at me. The Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses won't have me! Catholics or Protestants not a chance. I have no country club or even homeowners association affiliation. I finally decided that not belonging was my normal. I have achieved a level of awesomeness all by myself without a membership card, wait, I did join the AOPA.
Never mind.
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Have you tried the Loyal Order of Water Buffalo?
 
MauleSkinner said:
Have you tried the Loyal Order of Water Buffalo?
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Couldn't get Fred and Barney to sponsor me. :(
Tried to get Ralph and Ed to sponsor me in their lodge but when they found the Union wouldn't issue me a membership they quit asking me to join.
 
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I'm not a member of any fraternal organizations, never have been. The only organizations I belong to are aviation related but open to anyone. When I was in college, a couple of friends joined frats and tried to get me to join. I had no interest. I have been asked to join the masons twice. I had no interest. Friends have tried to get me interested in the lion's club and other groups. Again, I had no interest. I just think most of those sort of organizations are pretty useless even of they do charitable work and I have never had any interest in undergoing any sort of silly initiation process. Not sure why anyone would. :dunno:

However, the QBs sound like it might be a good fit. I mean who could possibly have anything against mixing aviation, beer and naked girls? :D
 
250
 
Our chapter is pretty awesome. All aviation warfighters. Good talks and good booze.
 
Jimmy cooper said:
Not sure about the very experienced or well respected part. I went years ago and it was lots of drunks, two or three strippers who rated about a 6 or 7 and finally beat it. Never went back. Sort of like a souped up frat party I thought.
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Sounds a bit like the Masons. As an organization, they boast a lot of big name founding father members, but nowadays the Masons seem to be most populated by senior enlisted folks.
 
flyingron said:
Many years ago there was a group of ham radio operators called 10-10 international. To join you had to work 10 members on the 10 meter band and submit there membership numbers (10-10 numbers) of those you worked to join. The local group was so comically screwed up politically that I spoofed making the 2-2 International club. If you attested that you worked 2 people on 2 meters (didn't need to be club member), I'd send you a certificate with your membership and number. It took people a little bit to notice that everybody got the same membership number (it was always 2).
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I have a 10-10 number (can't remember it right off hand and the card is at home and I'm in Italy right now). I'm not sure that 10-10 International is defunct, but I haven't been on 10 meters in a while, either. Love your send-up on it, however. :yes:

73

N6TPT
 
Soldier64 said:
Our chapter is pretty awesome. All aviation warfighters. Good talks and good booze.
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I'm the youngest in my hangar by about 25 years... But, we're working on that. Good mix of military and civilian at mine. Some days it's worth going, others it's a push. Overall still glad to be a part of it.
 

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EvilEagle said:
I'm the youngest in my hangar by about 25 years... But, we're working on that. Good mix of military and civilian at mine. Some days it's worth going, others it's a push. Overall still glad to be a part of it.
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Nice! My sponsor is about 8 years older than I am and beyond him its about a 20 year gap as well. We are trying to get the younger blood in, but it takes a special kind to deal with the process I guess. Nice pic, I need to do that in the 64.
 
Never thought much of secret handshake organizations. Aviation needs all the public outreach possible. People want to shut down airports, and secret groups of elite are not exactly going to help that unless they are politically connected. If it's a social thing fine, whatever, enjoy, but I hope they put something into the fight and not just get drunk thinking how great each other are while we watch airports get shut down.
 
I've run into a few guys with QB pins or nameplates over the years. All have been quite active airmen in other activities so I wouldn't particularly worry about QB siphoning off aviators. I'm sure there are those who sit around and do nothing but drink and tell tall stories, but these types aren't likely to do anything else. If they weren't in the QB they'd be sitting around somewhere else doing it.



It opens doors, I'm telling you.
 
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flyingron said:
I've run into a few guys with QB pins or nameplates over the years.
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I always thought the idea about the QBs was the 'quiet' part and that you didn't acknowledge the existence of the organization when asked.
 
Reminds me of the Cheers episode when Norm and Cliff join the lodge.
"Grab a beer. Hats and swords are in the bin..."
 
weilke said:
I always thought the idea about the QBs was the 'quiet' part and that you didn't acknowledge the existence of the organization when asked.
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The local guys I know sure aren't quiet about it. On the other hand, all they really say is that they attend the QB meetings but never go into detail about the content of the meeting.

The guys I know are quite active aviators. That may not be the case with the whole group though, but I don't know.
 
:rofl:

This whole thread reminds me when Homer Simpson had to turn in all his stuff including the official Stone Cutter underwear.
 
bnt83 said:
:rofl:

This whole thread reminds me when Homer Simpson had to turn in all his stuff including the official Stone Cutter underwear.
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#1: Remove the stone of shame!
HS: Woo Hoo!
#1: Attach the stone of triumph!
 
I suppose it varies from Hangar to Hangar (chapter to chapter), but the ones here are exclusively military aviators past and present. Most are retired from wearing the uniform, but still teach the incoming Army pilots their craft. Some are very old and can no longer fly, but enjoy the company of like minded people. There are a few of us still in uniform and I'd say all have a love for flying.
 
I've met one member, who was a very impressive gentleman. Kind of a small sample size to make any broad generalizations, though.
 
weilke said:
I always thought the idea about the QBs was the 'quiet' part and that you didn't acknowledge the existence of the organization when asked.
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"Quiet" (as the story was told to me) originated when they were being thrown out of their first meeting place in Manhattan - one famous member claimed they aren't loud, they are just a bunch of "quiet birdmen". And it stuck... or so I was told. :dunno:
 
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