If it hadn’t existed (this being Florida), they’d have had to invent it

In the early years of aviation, aspiring aviators quite naturally enjoyed hanging out with others who shared their interest. “Aero clubs” sprang up all over the country and did much to popularize flying as a sport that could be practiced by almost anyone.

The Florida Flying Alligators Club was no exception, but it garnered a little more attention than most.

The story goes that it was founded by 13 sportsmen pilots in 1934 at a get-together following a flight from Miami to Naples across the Everglades. According to newspaper accounts, that night “imaginations ran wild.” The pilots pictured the Everglades as being literally alive with alligators (in which they were by no means mistaken) and a new organization was born.

The club had as its purpose promotion of clean and sportsmanlike flying and the encouraging of wide-spread use of the airplane as a means of going places and doing things. To be eligible for membership, one must have flown at least 50 miles over Florida swamps.

Fame expands far and wide

By 1948, the club had over 5000 member pilots and had been featured in an article in LIFE magazine. Festive initiations were held annually. Although originally headquartered in Orlando, it appears that through the years meetings spread to other cities in Florida. These ceremonies famously included live alligators (see photo caption, at right). 😳🥶

Which begs the question: Are we having fun yet?

Gone but not forgotten

The last mention of a Florida Flying Alligator Club event in old newspaper archives was in 1950. As the annual event was often held just prior to Miami’s All American Air Maneuvers, which faded away right about that same time, it appears the Florida Flying Alligators Club met the same fate.