Short Snorter. An aviation tradition

[SixPapaCharlie]

I was at the FBO and started looking at all the "stuff" on the walls that I generally just walk by on my way to go fly.

Well there is tons of amazing stuff on the walls that dates back many years.

I stopped at this old dollar bill mostly because I wanted a coke out of the machine and needed a dollar. I couldn't find anything with which to break the protective glass so I just examined the dollar closer.

It had a handful of names written on it and it was labeled "Short Snorter"
My gut reaction was this was used by pilots to snort cocaine then I wondered why they would put their name on it. Maybe they put other pilots' names on it so they could be like "No I didn't snort cocaine. My name isn't even on it"

Turns out it stems from an Alaskan bush pilot tradition.


A short snorter is a banknote which was signed by various persons traveling together or meeting up at different events and records who was met. The tradition was started by bush pilots in Alaska in the 1920's and subsequently spread through the growth of military and commercial aviation. If you signed a short snorter and that person could not produce it upon request, they owed you a dollar or a drink


More here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_snorter

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

Thinkin this might be good fun at POA meetups.

 

[frfly172]

Sounds like it could work. Keep the dollar I'll have the drink.

 

[JCranford]

Kinda the aviation precursor to military challenge coins

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

Kinda the aviation precursor to military challenge coins

What is that?

 

[JCranford]

What is that?

Theyre large coins the size of silver dollars typically given to unit members by a unit commander in recognition of something. When out in a bar if unit members meets another member and slaps his challenge coin on the bar and others do not follow suit, a round is bought by the offender.

They have become more mainstream in recent years.

 

[denverpilot]

Best challenge coin story I've heard yet is one of my airplane co-owners.

He was on TDY doing an audit tour with a General who tried to coin him in a damned barracks shower by tossing a coin at him while they were getting cleaned up for the evening. (Let's just say the place didn't really have a BOQ or similar, even for visiting Generals and their staff.)

He spit his coin out of his mouth and the General bought all the rounds that night.

 

[3393RP]

Theyre large coins the size of silver dollars typically given to unit members by a unit commander in recognition of something. When out in a bar if unit members meet and one member slaps his challenge coin on the bar and others do not follow suit, a round is bought by the offender.

They have become more mainstream in recent years.

I know a retired Army colonel that calls those SMOs...shiny metal objects. Kinda like a participation trophy in some outfits. :wink2: