The Quiet Birdmen

jrh

jrh

Well-Known Member
Anybody know anything about this group? They held a meeting in one of the hangars near where I work last night. A real odd, secretive bunch. My Google searches don't turn up much. Rumors range anywhere from them being retired test pilots who like to party, to nothing more than old guys who like to hangar fly together. I'm curious what other peoples' experiences have been with them.
 
If I recall correctly it is a group of pilots that have over 10,000 hours or something like that. Not job-specific to my knowledge, just guys with high time or something.
 
WacoFan said:
If I recall correctly it is a group of pilots that have over 10,000 hours or something like that. Not job-specific to my knowledge, just guys with high time or something.
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Rumors from Google say you only need 500 hours to be eligible for membership, but who knows.

I joked with a guy last night that it's a secret society for owners of crappy low wing piston singles. We noticed how most of the members flew in with 1970s vintage Cherokees that could use a fresh coat of paint.
 
Yeah, I know a couple of QBs ... I get the feeling that it's sort of like the Masons for pilots, just much smaller in scope. One of the old coots in our flying club was initiated, and had to wear an old leather flying cap with goggles for the ceremony.
 
Murdoughnut said:
One of the old coots in our flying club was initiated, and had to wear an old leather flying cap with goggles for the ceremony.
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That was another joke my buddy and I came up with, that part of the initiation might be shooting approaches while buck naked.
 
Flew with a QB many years ago and he wouldn't talk about it either...and was not a test pilot. But I got the idea the organization was just ex-military pilots. He'd flown P38s and P40s.
 
bafanguy said:
Flew with a QB many years ago and he wouldn't talk about it either...and was not a test pilot. But I got the idea the organization was just ex-military pilots. He'd flown P38s and P40s.
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My boss is in it, it seems like it's just a good excuse to go eat steak and talk about flying once per month.
 
I didn't think it was possible to keep a secret about anything these days but the QBs seem to be doing a pretty good job of it.
 
I went to a meeting one time as the guest of a QB. It was mostly a bunch of older retired guys getting together to tell stories, jokes, and have a few drinks. Probably a nice way to get away from the wives for a night. I was told you have to have 500 hrs PIC and be sponsored. Also, if you're ever invited make sure you have a joke - it's a requirement of guests!
 
ppragman said:
My boss is in it, it seems like it's just a good excuse to go eat steak and talk about flying once per month.
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And bingo was his name-o. I've known a few guys who were either members or had been invited to be members. They're fairly secretive like the freemasons and they've got some silly rituals. But their secret is that they like to drink more than they like to fly. From what I understand, the only way in is to be invited by a current member. Mostly old guys and most of their flying is done in a hangar or in a pub.

As silly as that is, at this point in my life, if someone invited me, I'd probabaly consider it. Who wouldn't want go to a meeting like this?

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Definitely not required to be ex-military.

The description that QB is like the Masons for aviators is sort of true, just on a much lesser scale/extent.
 
My ex went to a couple of meetings. He was 55 years old at the time and said he was the youngest one there. He said mostly it was a bunch of old pilots who like to drink, tell jokes, and talk about flying. Pretty much what pilots do now, lol. I believe the 500 hour requirement is accurate. Oh, there was a topless waitress. Other than that, he didn't say much.
 
They guy who does my checkrides belongs to QB, and he spoke about it at great length after we finished my instrument ride. Nothing to fancy but freemason-like and didn't have to be ex-mil.
 
I met one a couple years ago. He was wearing a lapel pin with wings. I asked what it was. He said that you had to be invited to join by a current member and mentioned a lot of drinking and hanger flying.
 
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