The “Twirly Birds” was an inclusive organization of pioneering pilots of helicopters and other vertical takeoff aircraft, founded in 1945.

The founding members were people who had soloed a helicopter — or other vertical aircraft — in a complete flight, including a takeoff and landing prior to the end of the Second World War. They were people who had cast their fortunes with the vertical-lift world while it was in its infancy, who frequently faced derision and scorn because they saw what others could not see, or who did with others could not or would not do.

Igor Sikorsky, first president of the Twirly Birds. Igor Sikorsky Historical Archives Photo

The sole purpose of the Twirly Bird organization was to recognize and cement that fellowship, and to facilitate the cordial exchange of experience and opinions as the vertical-lift industry slowly progressed.

The roots of the organization can be traced to a business meeting in 1944 between pilot Charles Lester Morris and Ray Thompson of the U.S. Aviation Underwriters. Thompson told Morris, who had been trained by Igor Sikorsky on the first VS-300 experimental helicopter in 1941, that there should be an organization of pioneering helicopter pilots — similar to the fixed-wing Early Birds. Morris thought about this interesting idea and kept it in the back of his mind.

The idea became a reality during the second annual banquet of the American Helicopter Society at the Ambassador Hotel in New York City on Dec. 7, 1945, with Igor Sikorsky elected as the first president of the Twirly Birds.

Stewart R, Graham, USCG helicopter pilot, and founding member of the Twirly Birds. USCG Photo

A follow up Twirly Birds meeting on Feb. 9, 1946 ,at the McAlpin Hotel in New York City discussed a constitution and bylaws for the organization. Along with Igor Sikorsky, those present included Les Morris, Michael and Serge Gluhareff, R. Allen Price, Jimmy Viner, Buck Miller, Frank Erickson, Stu Graham, Steve Tremper, Bill Knapp, Keith Wilson, Jack Bieghle, and Charles Lindbergh.

The group’s membership soon began to grow and spread across the United States. One of the first International Twirly Birds was Canadian Jack Charleson, a Department of Transport inspector and bush pilot. An international meeting took place at the Farnborough Air Show in England in 1955.

Growing Membership

Military helicopter pilot Lieutenant Colonel John “Slats” Slattery had always been interested in helicopters. He began compiling and documenting the history of rotary-wing flight and collecting helicopter display models while in the Air Force. Before long, Slats started his association with the Helicopter Association of America (later the Helicopter Association International, and joined the Twirly Birds in 1967.

Slats quickly became the secretary and historian for the prestigious organization. It was his dedication and love for the Twirly Birds that kept the importance of the pioneering helicopter pilots in the spotlight, so they would not be forgotten. Slats sent out quarterly newsletters to all the members to keep everyone up to date, and was considered the glue that kept the Twirly Birds together. He also declared that the Twirly Birds was a social club — and no business was to be discussed at meetings.

In 1980, the Les Morris award (previously the Bill McGuire award,) honoring the early Sikorsky helicopter test pilot, was established to recognize an individual that had made a significant lifetime contribution to the helicopter community. The award was presented annually until 2023 at Twirly Birds meetings.

By the 1980s, Twirly Birds members had joined from Canada, Britain, France, Germany, New Zealand and Australia. According to Slates, there were close to 250 Twirly Birds members by this time.

In the beginning, Twirly Birds gatherings were held twice a year at the American Helicopter Society annual forums and the Helicopter Association of America (later the Helicopter Association International) Heli-Expo conventions.

Twirly Birds presidents over the years included Igor Sikorsky, Steve Tremper, Dennis Foley, Joe Mashman and many others, all with major backgrounds in the helicopter industry.

 Jim Hamilton, a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, joined the Twirly Birds in 1973, and before long became the group’s president. In 1974, with just 19 founding helicopter pioneers still alive, Hamilton realized that a new general membership category was needed to keep the Twirly Birds functioning in the future.

Associate Twirly Birds members Jeff Evans (left) and Bob Petite (right). Twirly Birds Photo

General membership was then created for those who had soloed a helicopter or other vertical take-off aircraft in sustained complete flight — including a take-off and landing — more than 20 years ago. As a result, there was an immediate increase in new Twirly Birds members.

In 2000, another new membership category was approved by the Twirly Birds membership: associate member. These were outstanding individuals who were not helicopter pilots, but who had made a significant contribution to the industry for over 20 years.

In 2010, Hamilton retired as Twirly Birds president after over 25 years in the role. Aris Helicopters pilot, Steve Sullivan, was nominated and approved as the next Twirly Birds president. He had been a Twirly Birds member since 1987.

Sullivan retired from the role in 2020, and was replaced by Randy Rowles, owner of the Helicopter Institute in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2022, the Twirly Birds meeting was cancelled due to the Covid 19 epidemic. Then, on Jan. 23, 2023, Rowles stepped down as president due to lack of time to devote to the organization.

The last Twirly Birds president Randy Rowles (left) alongside Sergei Sikorsky in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2021. Randy Rowles Photo

The last meeting of the Twirly Birds was held in Atlanta, Georgia, during in March 2023 during the Heli-Expo convention. Attendance was sparse.

Sullivan, present at the meeting, said many of older generation of Twirly Birds are now unable to attend, or have gone west. No one was prepared to take over as president, and without leadership, the continued interest in the Twirly Birds organization was in question.

Sullivan sent out the last and final Twirly Birds newsletter in July 2023, announcing the situation. Many Twirly Birds were saddened and very disappointed to hear the news. The Helicopter Association International, who had sponsored the cost of the Twirly Birds’ online presence, eventually shut down the historic site.

On Sept. 27, 2024, it was reluctantly decided to dissolve the Twirly Birds organization after 78 years. It was the end of an era, with not enough interest in continuing the pioneering helicopter pilot social club.

On Sept. 8, 2025, Twirly Bird Sergei Sikorsky passed away. He was one of the last of the pioneers to learn to fly a Sikorsky R-4.

By April 2026, all Twirly Birds bank accounts were closed. The remaining funds were donated to the Whirly Girls (an organization representing women working in the vertical-lift industry). The Twirly Birds archives in the University of Texas in Richardson remain as a lasting tribute to the history of the helicopter pioneers. Any new historical documents are still welcome.

Efforts are taking place to restore the Twirly Birds website, with the intention of adding new information and stories to the site on the history of the founding of the helicopter industry.