Tau Omega was established as a professional fraternity in December 1927 by students who were interested in flying instruction at the University of Oklahoma.

[2] The fraternity's insignia was a key shaped like a Maltese cross, with a superimposed airplane engine and propellor.

[8] Its pledges were required to wear goggles and a white flying helmet the day before being initiated as members.

In March 1928, members of the Alpha chapter rebuilt an airplane that belonged to the Oklahoma Air Transport Company.

[11] In December 1929, the fraternity began constructing a glider with hopes of setting a new endurance record.

[14] In October 1931, the fraternity built a wind tunnel to be used by University of Oklahoma students for testing miniature airplane models.