modock, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

modock n.

[‘a flashy chap who goes around wearing helmet and goggles, and more than likely, leather boots and riding breeches, too, and talking about the big things he is going to do for aviation’ (Allen & Lyman, Wonder Book of the Air, 1936); ety. unknown. Supposedly a mythical bird, which ‘flies backwards to keep the sun out of its eyes’, but other than an aviators’ joke, this has no validity as an ety.]

(US) one who becomes an aviator for the social prestige or publicity.

1933		Stewart Airman Speech 78: Modock. One who talks about aviation but never flies [HDAS].
1945		F. Walton Airman’s Almanac 402: The Modock was a sartorial hanger-on at airports.