You can’t go wrong with this special treat. Two fabulous shows in the same area on the same weekend: Our world renowned air show at the Aerodrome and the national antique motorcycle show at the Rhinebeck Fairgrounds.

Through a special arrangement with the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, show your Aerodrome ticket at their show and get $5 off the admission, or show your AMCA ticket at our show on Fathers’ Day weekend and get $5 off. What better way to show your

Dad how much you appreciate him?
See Rhinebecknationalmeet.com for the AMCA show details.

The British aviation monthly FLYPAST features a very nice pictorial essay in its January 2008 issue on The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. This two page spread covers our last airshow of 2007 with several beautiful photos of our aircraft in flight and is available wherever international periodicals are sold so check it out. Thanks to writer and photographer Eric Dumigan for a job well done.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome wishes you a
Happy and Healthy 2008!!!!

Now that the aeroplanes have been safely put away, and work has begun on our Winter projects, we’d like to finish our 2007 airshow season by spotlighting just a few of the sometimes unsung members of the Old Rhinebeck family. These are the hardworking folk who have dedicated themselves toward making this season one of the best and most successful in a long time. Some of these fresh faces should already be familiar to those who’ve visited us during the Summer. A handful have the job of keeping the rides planes running on schedule each weekend, some manage the gift shop or ticket booth while others busily toil behind the scenes or use their talents as part of the cast of characters that make up our ground show. On behalf of the pilots, mechanics and the rest of the aerodrome community – we thank you.

We are happy to announce that we are currently working on the restoration of Cole Palens Sopwith Dolphin. This is the only Sopwith Dolphin, replica or original that has ever flown since WWI. Adding to the unique connection this aircraft has to the aerodromes history is the fact that pilot and mechanic Bill Gordon is doing the work and will eventually fly it in the colors of the aircraft of his grandfather, Lieutenant William F. Gordon of 19 Squadron, who flew Dolphins during the First World War. We believe that this is the only time that a direct descendant of a WWI pilot will have ever restored and flown a WWI aircraft in any venue worldwide. The Hispano-Suiza engine has been disassembled, evaluated and much work completed while the fuselage assembly has been transported to Bill’s shop where, with the help of aerodrome volunteers work will continue this Winter. Cole Palen took particular pains to build his Dolphin in exact detail using the original Sopwith factory drawings, one of his few projects in which no compromises of any kind were made during the construction. The intent of course will be to honor that originality during the rebuild.

Renowned aviation photographer and author Atsushi ‘Fred’ Fujimori spent a weekend at the Aerodrome toward the end of our airshow season and took some beautiful photos from both the ground and air for a forthcoming book on antique aviation. Mr. Fujimoi has authored several books on WWII aircraft still flying in Japan and the United States and a photographic essay featuring a comprehensive collection of U.S. Army fighters is expected to be published next February. All pictures are used with the kind permission of Mr. Atsushi Fujimori.

Miss Sally Robinson of Great Britain recently visited the Aerodrome and was kind enough to pose with our AVRO 504K and supply us with some pictures from her personal collection of her father, Maurice Robinson, taken during construction of the aircraft in 1966 as well as a brief history of its intended film career:

AVRO 504K

The AVRO 504K was commissioned in 1966 for the MGM film entitled “The Bells of Hell go Ting-a-ling-a-ling”. It was about a raid on the Fredrichshafen Airship Sheds in World War I and would have starred Gregory Peck. The film started production, but was closed after 1 / 2 months for reasons we are unsure of.

The plane was built at Blackbushe Airfield (Hampshire, UK) in just 3 months. Maurice Robinson (Aircraft Engineer) was responsible for the building of the plane from start to finish, and worked 15 hour days for the duration of the build. He was assisted by Ray Bishop (Carpenter), Terry Hiscox & Michael Curwood (BOAC Aircraft Engineers (now British Airways) at Heathrow Airport) who gave their time around their work shift patterns to assist with the construction. Part-time help was also given by John Thripp. The first public flight for the press (after having been test flown by Mr. Robinson) was by Vivian Bellamy (Hampshire Aeroplane Company).

MGM found and provided the original 110hp Le Rhone Type J Rotary engine (date stamped 1917), and the propeller of the same age. The rest was built from scratch. We understand the engine was imported from Jack Canary’s collection in Germany and was overhauled by Mr Kula at his Stuttgart works.

Maurice Robinson asked AVRO for some photos of the original AVRO 504 so he could get an idea of proportions. AVRO were able to supply him with a complete set of 1915 design drawings for the original aircraft for him to work from. Working from these plans, he had a plane build in 14 weeks (same time scale as the WWI factory on mass production) at a cost of 5,000 / 6,000 GBP. Every stud and panel was hand made to perfection by Maurice Robinson. Audrey Robinson (wife) also worked on the build and helped with the wax stringing of the wings.

After the AVRO 504 project Maurice Robinson set up his own company at Blackbushe Airfield called Robinson Aircraft Ltd. He specialised in vintage planes, restoring & building many projects including a Jungmeister, Stampes and Tiger Moths to name a few. He also continued work for the film industry including a Stuka commissioned for the MGM film “Battle of Britain” and the gondola from “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”.

Sadly Maurice Robinson died in July 1976. He is survived by his wife Audrey, three children Michael and Andrew and Sally.

Click here to view the slide show.

Friday afternoon saw some beautiful R/C and full scale biplane flying weather and the early arrivals made the most of it.  Saturday was a bit less pleasant but we saw some nice flying and were lucky enough to get an airshow in - although a little improvisation was necessary to keep it moving along until the weather cleared up.  Sunday was gorgeous and many of the modellers were up at dawn taking advantage of the beautiful conditions.Thanks to everyone involved for making this weekend a resounding success and a whole lot of fun.

Click here to view the slide show.

Our very popular annual R/C model meet is this weekend (September 8 & 9) so make plans to show up early and see all the beautiful scale models in flight before the full scale aircraft take to the sky.

In addition, as we pass the halfway mark on our 2007 airshow calendar, we at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome thank those of you who have already made this season one of the most successful in recent history.  For those who haven’t yet been able to fit an airshow into your weekend plans, here is a list of aircraft you can expect to see on our flight line every Saturday & Sunday until mid October:
 
Albatros DVa
AVRO 504k (recently restored after being crashed many years ago)
Bleriot (the oldest original airplane flying in the United States)
Caudron (our other rotary powered WWI two seater)
Curtiss Junior
Curtiss JN4 Jenny
Curtiss D Pusher
Fleet
Fokker DR1
Fokker DVII
Great Lakes (3 different models)
Hanriot
D-25 New Standard (our 2 rides planes)
Nieuport 24 (new to the aerodrome this year)
SPAD VII
DH-82 Tiger Moth
Piper PA11 (a favorite of the Flying Farmer)

It is with great sadness that we report that Charles J. Gablehouse passed away on August 5, 2007. Charlie, as he was called by everyone at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, was a friend and associate of ORA founder Cole Palen.  His domain at ORA was the museum where he volunteered his time as a docent.  He could be found there most weekends leading groups of adults and children from exhibit to exhibit and from museum building to museum building. His encyclopedic knowledge of the history of the aircraft, his descriptions of actual events to make history come alive to his guests, and his calm quiet manner made him a favorite with guests and staff members alike.  When not talking to visitors he could be found sitting outside one of the museum buildings reading an aviation book or magazine.

Charlie was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism in ground combat in the Korean War.  He was a volunteer fireman, a member of the Greene County Council on the Arts, and was an animal lover. In addition to lecturing on aviation subjects, he authored a book entitled “Helicopters and Autogiros.”
 
The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome staff and volunteers extend their deepest condolences to
Charlie’s family and friends.

With the arrival of our second D-25 New Standard earlier this Summer, The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome now makes the dream of open cockpit biplane flight a reality for more than 200 visitors each weekend. An enormous debt of gratitude is due Aerodrome pilot Bill Gordon who not only provides many of those rides each weekend - along with fellow pilot Vinnie Nasta - but who also took on the arduous task of flying the Wright powered D-25 from Georgia up the coast to The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Another thank you goes out to photographer Deirdre Ann Marangi for these beautiful air-to-air photos of both rides planes.

Click here to view the slide show.

The Curtiss Junior now flying in our collection is an extremely original example with all original wood in the wings, and having survived with its original tubing fuselage and tail intact. For many years it was hoisted above a shop ceiling where it was invisible and saved from the ravages of sitting outside in the weather, a fate to which so many lightplanes of the 1930's were subject when they got old. Restoration consisted mostly of a fabric recovering and some engine work. Most recently the engine was completely overhauled before being put back into service this spring. The comical proportions of the design notwithstanding, the Junior is a joy to fly with unparalleled visibility, good enough performance to fly two people easily, and the ability to stay airborne for hours on its 8 gallons of fuel with the throttle pulled back to less than half power. With a 40 ft. wingspan it is virtually a powered glider. The reasons for this unique design make an interesting story in the history of American light aircraft.

By 1931 the giant Curtiss-Wright Aircraft firm was having the same problem selling big expensive biplanes as the rest of the aviation industry. The Great Depression of 1929 put millions out of work. People were more interested in food and shelter than flying machines and sales of all airplanes and even automobiles in the US dropped to nearly nothing. Curtiss-Wright had potential orders for large commercial airplanes forthcoming in a year, but in the meantime had to keep its skilled workforce busy. The solution was to copy Aeronca, builders of the successful C-2 & C-3 "flivver planes" and come up with a cheap design that the huge sales and service network of Curtiss-Wright could mass produce and sell.

Karl White set about to design a safe and good performing light airplane and he chose the pusher layout because it was "impossible to stall it on takeoff." A high powered airplane will have plenty of thrust to pull it off the ground in any attitude. But pulling the stick back on a small, low powered airplane to "goose it" into the air, could result in a stall very close to the ground. The pusher design was safer because it didn’t have the long landing gear of the conventional airplane, required in order to allow clearance for a nose mounted propeller. The landing gear could be very low to the ground and the engine mounted high above the fuselage which allowed the wing to fly off in a flatter attitude at a faster and safer airspeed. Many engines were tried including the Continental A-40 and the Bristol Cherub, but the 3 cylinder Szekely (a family name pronounced ‘Say-Kay’ by the designer and meaning "from Transylvania") with its large displacement and long, low rpm propeller provided the best thrust. Juniors were soon being shipped all over the country disassembled in railroad boxcars and for around $1500 were quite a bargain to the average flight school where they were quite popular. The student pilot sat up front where he could see forward with unobstructed clarity and the popping, oil throwing, sputtering engine aft of the wing made him feel that "all his troubles were behind him."

Production of the approximately 261 airplanes occurred in just over one year, long enough to keep Curtiss-Wright going, at which point the market was saturated and production stopped. Juniors soldiered on for the rest of the decade however, providing many fun hours for cash starved pilots. A few were used for coyote hunting, the ability to fly slowly and to shoot forward being the main attraction in this activity. The famous California movie stunt pilot Paul Mantz modified his front cockpit to mount a large Cine camera and the Junior became the perfect movie camera platform long before the invention of helicopters.

The construction of the Junior is a marvel of lightness with very small 1/4" x 1/4" capstrips used in the wing ribs and 1/32" gusset plates glued on only one side of the built-up ribs. Every bit of weight was removed to achieve a claimed empty weight of 570 lbs, though this seems optimistic; our example weighs 625 lbs. with only non standard brakes and a steerable tailwheel being added. Though light, the structure is well braced with many struts and feels rigid and safe in flight. Takeoff is remarkably short, in the fact the Junior is one of the few ORA airplanes capable of flying off the short hilltop on the south end of our runway. Climb rate is slow but steady. The seating position feels like you are flying a glider and in fact, the glide is very long and flat with the engine at idle. Once in ground effect there is noticeable float, and the actual landing speed is extremely slow. A truly fun airplane of the 1930's, it has lost none of its charm and enjoyment over the last 76 years.

Click here to view the slide show.

"Our Bleriot is once again flying high in the skies of Old Rhinebeck.  It's debut with new fabric covering came last weekend and though it was too windy on Saturday, a nice flight was seen during the Sunday show.  The yellowish-brown color may be a surprise after years in bright white dacron, but this color is very close to the original hue of the clear doped linen fabric prevalent from 1910 through early WW1. Much internal work on the wings was accomplished during the recover including double bay X bracing wires to remove the unsightly sweepback that had slowly occurred over the years. New aluminum leading edges (yes, they were originally aluminum) were roller formed at great effort to match the airfoil. No silver undercoat was used on the fabric in order to maintain the wonderful translucence so typical of the Pioneer airplanes.  However an ultraviolet blocker was mixed into the dope to extend the life of the fabric when parked directly in the sun.  Together with the overhauled engine our Bleriot is now a true performer and quickly breaks ground climbing for the heavens. Many hands were responsible for all the detailing, fitting, rigging (and polishing!) to make this all possible. We hope you come to the airshow and see this 1909 apparition in full flight, one of the few places in the world that still flies an original Bleriot. Special thanks to Poly Fiber Coatings for donation of materials for this project and to all the people who worked long hours to bring it to completion."

Click here to view the slide show.

Brilliant blue sky smiled upon a flight line of more than a dozen aircraft patiently awaiting the gates to open as The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome airshow season took flight for the 48th time in early June.

Part of our opening weekend included perhaps the most diminutive Curtiss design, the Junior, which flew on the same day as the grandest, the Hisso powered Jenny - much to the delight of a full house with hopes that the Curtiss D pusher will circuit the field in the coming weeks thus completing a trifecta unique in the annals of current aviation. We also rolled out the Ryan NYP for a rare taxi trial, clocked the Renault tank at maybe a few miles per hour according to the lovely “It Girl” of the Aerodrome, who was bravely in charge of the scientific data we accumulated. The flying bike has been redesigned and wind tunnel tests are encouraging, Madame Fifi has the new line of fashions on display in her shop, Sir Percy and Trudy are once again making plans……….but the Black Baron is surely conspiring to cause mayhem and mischief for the happy couple in his quest for a kiss.

Join us every weekend this Summer as melodrama, romance, and the occasional dash of slapstick form a backdrop for one of the worlds foremost collection of antique aircraft.

It is with sadness that on Sunday, June 24th we learned of the passing of one of the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome’s long time friends and supporters, Richard King. His lifelong dream of flying led him to the Rhinebeck area in the spring of 1959, where he joined the newly forming Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome and worked under Cole Palen, helping to create one of the worlds premier flying museums. His passion for aviation lead to more than 10,000 hours of flying in many types of pioneer and WW-I aircraft, including his very popular LeRhone powered Sopwith Pup which he built and flew for many years as “Sir Percy Goodfellow”. Among his other interests and accomplishments, Mr. King was a very well respected artist and author, having illustrated several published childrens aviation books. His most recent book, The Skies Over Rhinebeck, a Pilot's Story is currently available online or in our gift shop and is a unique first hand account of the early days at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Our pilots, ground crew and entire staff would like to express our sincerest condolences to the King family.

The young types proudly representing Brooklyn NY descended upon The Aerodrome over the past two weekends in separate groups of eighty of the most inquisitive, intelligent and wonderful children we proudly call our new best friends.

Our volunteers happily fielded dozens of questions about rotary engines, why some planes were painted red, are two wings better than one and - the ultimate disappointment …No…these aren’t real machine guns on the Fokker DVII. The youngsters were also treated to an aerial display of the SPAD VII while ice cream and drinks helped cool off an unusually hot afternoon.

Thanks to everyone involved for making it possible for these kids to sample a bit of aviation history, especially Jean and Carol who went out of their way to make it all happen.

The happy blip, coupe and cut off sound of a rotary powered aircraft in flight returned to the Aerodrome last week in the shape of our 80 HP Le Rhone powered Caudron G.III reconnaissance two seater..  The early evening calm was a perfect opportunity in late May to once and twice again slip the surly bonds a foot or three at a time and let a rotary ramble, rumble and any other euphemism associated with the dulcet tones of an engine that slings copious amounts of castor oil for a living - announce to anyone within earshot that – The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome – is once again open for business. 

A very special thanks to Jack Feroldi who literally volunteered to the point of exhaustion getting the Caudron ready for the flightline, also his Dad, Rich Feroldi, a mainstay of our Radio Control Model Airplane weekend and world reknown R/C model builder and volunteer Doug Pierce for all their work.  Together these three men applied their passion for detail, as only expert model craftsmen might, to the Caudron bringing the fabric back to life, sanding, varnishing and renewing the struts to a honey colored hue, polishing the various brass and metal cockpit fittings and refurbishing the beautiful copper piping of the rotary engine.  Their hard work and complete devotion to making the Caudron perfect both mechanically and cosmetically was nothing short of remarkable.

OLD RHINEBECK AERODROME ADDS 2nd 1929 NEW STANDARD D-25 BI-PLANE… DOUBLES ITS PASSENGER AIR TOUR CAPACITY FOR 2007

Rhinebeck, NY, February 28, 2007: Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome announced today that passenger air tour capacity will be doubled when it begins its air show season June 16th.

“Interest in scenic flights aboard our original 1929 New Standard D-25 airplane has always exceeded capacity, said Old Rhinebeck Air Shows President, Hugh Schoelzel. This year we are pleased to add a second 1929 New Standard D-25 doubling our ability to fly kids and adults in an antique bi-plane over the Hudson River Valley.”

The D-25 was designed in response to new standards imposed by the first Civil Aviation Regulations in 1926 that forced replacement of war surplus airplanes used by barnstormers to carry passengers after World War I. It incorporated the latest construction techniques available in 1928 to make it easy to fly and rugged enough to take off and land in rough terrain. Best of all, it increased the payload from two to four passengers. Subject to Federal Aviation Administration approval; both airplanes will fly passengers on scenic flights commencing on June 16 through the last day of air show operations on October 14. Rides in the 1929 New Standard D-25 are $50 per passenger.

“The addition of this 1929 D25 New Standard is an important step in expanding the museum’s collection of early aircraft at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, said Paul Heimbach, President of Old Rhinebeck Museum. But more in the interest of air show attendees, we anticipate that we will have a most impressive fleet of flying antique airplanes representing this colorful era of aviation history. Cole Palen would be proud!”

Click on the image to view slide show.

With a wind chill that dragged local temperatures to sub zero levels, what better time than the coldest week of this Winter to attempt to get 6.5 tons of heavy metal unstuck and in motion for the first time in over a year. Undaunted by these bitter weather conditions, Aerodrome pilot Bill Gordon and son Bill Jr. brought in the big rigs and loaded our Renault FT-17/18 for transport to their shop for evaluation.

The Renault “Light” tank earned a permanent place in military history as being one of the first to have a rear mounted engine and a gun platform that could rotate a full 360 degrees, design concepts that are incorporated to this day. With a top speed of seven kilometers per hour, it was considered a viable field armament for many years after the end of WWI with variations of its design serving well into the 1930’s.

After a long and slow trek on the flatbed, and countless looks of incredulity along the way, our Renault has had its engine removed and its drive system dismantled and work has begun on machining replacement parts in the hope that it will be running in either late 2007 or 2008.

Again, a heartfelt Thank You to Aerodrome pilot Bill Gordon for donating everything needed to get this project underway.

Click on the image to view slide show.

After 45 years of faithful service the 1929 Anzani engine on our Bleriot-XI received a complete overhaul last winter which included machining new connecting rod bronze bearing shells with new poured babbit to replace the greatly worn originals. Many other small parts were machined and replaced at that time as well. The tractor carburetor Cole Palen installed so long ago was replaced with a new aircraft carburetor of larger capacity and engine runs performed during the airshow in 2006 proved that power output was greatly increased. This winter we are continuing major work which includes recovering the wings and tail in clear doped fabric. Ultraviolet sun damage eventually reduces even the strongest fabric to the strength of tissue paper, in this case the covering lasted about 15 years. Doping in the usual modern manner with silver followed by a creme color coat would allow it to last virtually forever, but we would lose the amazing translucent effect of clear doped fabric characteristic of pioneer aircraft which makes them appear so delicate. Also new for this coming season for the first time on our Bleriot is the fitting of correct white rubber tires. White rubber has not been available in this particular size previously, but with much research by aerodrome pilot Neill Hermann, we were able to track down and purchase several sets of these tires, giving the airplane a more authentic air.

Our Bleriot, #56 off the production line out of over 800 built between July 1909 and August 1914, is not only a remarkable survivor but a pure joy to fly. It has responsive controls in flight and a wonderful feeling of balloon like buoyancy not found in other airplanes. Please come see it in action again this summer.

Click on the image to view slide show.

The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Boards of Trustees recently met at the NASM Udvar-Hazy Center (at no expense to ORA) to explore ways to improve your experience at our museum and air shows. If your travels take you to Washington D.C., we are certain you would enjoy a visit to this new museum, which nicely complements our collection.

The National Air and Space Museum has two notable Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome aircraft on display: A Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8 (on loan) and a French Nieuport 28, (donated by Cole Palen).

The F.E.8 was unique in that its “pusher” engine allowed a forward firing machine gun that wouldn’t hit the propeller!

For more information, visit our Collection page:
Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8





The Nieuport 28 was the first fighter to score an aerial victory with an American unit.

For more history, see:
National Air and Space Museum - Nieuport 28







Never missing an opportunity to finance the war effort, this poster was attached to the lower wing.

For more history, see:
National Air and Space Museum - Nieuport 28


We are working hard to make the 2007 season one the best, and are sure your visit will be rewarding. Let us know what you would like to see!
Contact Us Today!

The History Channel spent some time visiting The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome last Summer filming segments of their program “Man, Moment & Machine” which airs a new program every Tuesday at 10:00 Eastern time.  The focus of our contribution will be an episode detailing the aerial victories of Manfred Von Richthofen and the Albatros biplane he is less infamous for than the blood red Fokker Triplane we are all familiar with. 

Our Albatros DVa plays an important role in this segment along with the input of our Aerodrome pilots with regard to lending a current day appreciation of the aircraft of the First World War.

This episode is scheduled for: Saturday, January 20th at 3:00. 
For More information visit the History Channel Website.

Former Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome board member and long time supporter Paul Richards is currently being honored in a display at the Albany, NY International airport sponsored by the Saratoga Automobile Museum celebrating car racing in New York state.  Concourse 'A' has two cabinets which include photos of Paul, his monogrammed driving suit, helmet, trophies and several paragraphs devoted to his long and illustrious auto racing career, much of it accomplished in New York.  Various photos, including a formal portrait commissioned by Alfa Romeo after a winning race, show him in or beside some of the cars he drove, including his Jaguar E-Type in action during the 1963 "Twenty Four Hours of Le Mans".  

At Dayton in 1970 Paul hit the wall at 160 mph and though unhurt, decided at age 47 to give up racing.  In 2005 Paul was honored by Jaguar cars of North America and received a lifetime achievement award from The Vintage Sports Car Club of America.  He passed away November 11, 2005.

For information on other exhibits at Albany International Airport or the Saratoga Auto Museum,
please visit the links below.

Saratoga Auto Museum
Albany Airport

After withstanding decades of UV punishment, the Albatros DVa is now undergoing refurbishment to the upper deck of its fuselage and tail section.  While the underlying wood remains in good condition, the original paint had begun to crack and blister and no longer offered sufficient protection from the elements and, once removed, will be replaced with an epoxy based covering that should last for many years to come. 

The current paint scheme, familiar to Aerodrome patrons as an early version of the Albatros flown by Eduard Ritter Von Schleich – The Black Knight – will remain, although some consideration was given to updating it to a latter and overall black configuration of his aircraft.  Work has also begun in earnest on the Aerodromes collection of antique automobiles starting with the 1909 Renault Touring Car and 1914 Ford Model T.
 
Click on the image to view slide show.

On December 8, Rory Westphal returned the restored Short S-29 wing panels he volunteered to restore as his Eagle Scout Project.  Rory and his father Chris delivered the finished panels Friday evening.  Chad Wille, chief mechanic, master aircraft restorer, and a pilot at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, accepted the panels on behalf of ORA.  The successful completion of this project signals that Rory has met the requirements to become an Eagle Scout.  This project represented a major undertaking and Rory and the volunteers from Troop 21 should be very proud of their accomplishments.

The scope of the project included stripping the panels, repairing broken wood braces, sealing that wood, and covering the panels with Poly Fiber covering and sealing with nitrate dope.

Click on the image to view slide show.

After a month off to attend to responsibilities that may have been neglected all Summer, our volunteers are back to concentrate on the business of aircraft restoration. Work on Coles cherished Great Lakes is on schedule with the fuel tank center section now finished, having been taped, sprayed with multiple coats of silver to protect it from the sun and several finishing coats of an Egg Nog colored dope appropriate to the Holiday Season, it’s been installed along with the upper wing panels and is again a biplane. 

The flying wires will be attached this week and everything will be squared off and trimmed and a run of the engine is expected before the years end.  The wings and tail surfaces have been removed from the Bleriot and the recovering process should begin early 2007.  With work continuing through the Winter, these two valuable aircraft should, once again,  be ready to take their respective places of honor on our flightline next Summer.

Click on the image to view slide show.

The popular PBS series NOVA is currently airing "Wings of Madness", an in depth look at the life and works of aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont. Earlier this year, the crew from NOVA visited Old Rhinebeck to take photographs of our 1909 Demoiselle and speak to our pilots for their insight regarding the idiosyncrasies of pioneer aircraft for this program and for their interactive website. Please check your TV listings or their link:

Visit: NOVA Website

Sunday was one of those clear, crisp Autumn days that make working outdoors a pleasure regardless of the task. Thanks to our dedicated team of volunteers, Mike, Deb, Casey, Karl, Carol, Megan, Nathaniel, Jean, John and - as always, Mr. Bill King, we tucked away the collection for their annual hibernation very nicely. Be sure to click on the slide show to see if you can name all seven of the aircraft we’ve cloistered in our ‘new’ hangar through the cats cradle of bracing wires!

While the curtain may have come down on our aerial stage for 2006, work will continue behind the scenes during the cold months. The fuel tank center section for the Great Lakes is ready to be painted and installed with a full check of the Menasco engine planned for the coming weeks. In addition, a few of the “non – gravity defying” members of our collection are set for complete mechanical overhauls so they might once again chaperone our lovely fashion show participants in high style . We also plan to re-cover the fabric surfaces of the Bleriot XI, repair some cosmetic blistering on the Albatros DVa fuselage, and strip down the Szekely engine on our Curtiss Wright Junior to see what needs to be done to possibly have it back in the air for 2007. We’ve already begun to receive commitments of time, services and money from Aerodrome volunteers toward the total restoration of the Sopwith Camel to flying condition (a full update within the coming months) so we’ll be giving it a good going over this Winter and will have a plan sometime early next year on how best to address this challenge. Once again, thanks to all who helped out this weekend. As always, our patrons are our lifeblood, but our volunteers are the heart of what we do so if you’d like to join us, give us a call.

Click on the image to view larger image.

Due to the forecast of inclement weather, we've had to cancel our plans to move aeroplanes this weekend. Looks like we'll have to try again next weekend. Anyone interested in stopping by please call the ORA office at (845) 752-3200 or the shop at (845) 752-3206 for information.

For the 47th time, we again thank those of you who braved not only the elements, but the increased cost of travel to support our efforts to keep the vision of Cole Palen alive for yet another successful season. With the help of dedicated volunteers, pilots and possibly the hardest working ground crew on Earth, we were once again able to display antique aircraft in a picturesque setting and recreate – live- a WWI dogfight every weekend that might otherwise only be seen on the big screen.

We’ll begin putting our aircraft to bed this weekend so if you’d like to help out the Aerodrome by actively participating, stop by on Saturday and lend a hand. We found the Black Barons check book in the Triplane so he’ll be treating to pizza pie and soda pop this weekend whether he knows it or not. If you’re otherwise obligated, feel free to call and volunteer for future events and hopefully we’ll see you next Spring. Once again, thanks to everyone.

Click on the image to view larger image.

At long last, one of Cole Palens most cherished aircraft – the Great Lakes 2T-1MS Trainer is a step closer to rejoining the flight line for 2007. The original steel fuel tank was pressure tested by Aerodrome volunteer Mike Creegan of G.C. Iron Works in Elmsford N.Y. earlier this year and, while it was in remarkably good shape for its age, corrosion and structural damage over the years lead us to decide it was time to have it replaced with an all aluminum tank fabricated from original drawings.

In an effort to preserve for posterity a record of what the factory had originally installed, Aerodrome patron and Civil Engineer John T. Walsh created exacting blueprints based on measurements from the original fuel tank which will be displayed along with a cross section of the original fuel tank in our History of Flight building early next year.

Click on the image to view the SlideShow

With Autumn in full swing, Mother Nature has once again turned the Hudson River Valley into a canvas of red, orange and gold foliage which also means, the Aerodrome air show season is nearing a close for 2006. If you haven't had a chance yet this year, October 14 & 15 will be your last opportunity to see if the more than forty year courtship of Sir Percy Goodfellow and Trudy Truelove might finally prevail against the scheming evil Black Baron....at least until next year. We also invite you to stop by and say hello to The Farmer - he's mowing the airfield as you read this - before he turns his attention to the Fall harvest. Take a look in the workshop and on the flight line for a glimpse at what we are working on for next season.

Thanks to everyone who has enjoyed the beautiful sunny weather with us this year and to those who stopped by even when the weather was a windy and wet version of beautiful. Hope to see you this weekend!

The 1911 Curtiss Pusher is running again! On Saturday October 7, the Curtiss Pusher was demonstrated to the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome audience. It has been many years since the famous Curtiss OX-5 has been heard at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. This engine will receive a further break in of several hours ground running time and will be flying early next spring.

Bill Gordon and Susan Haight display the newly rebuilt wheels on the Curtiss Pusher which he bead blasted, primed and painted for the Curtiss refurbishment.

New Aerodrome pilot Bill Gordon checks out in the Spad 7 and Albatros DVa, rounding out his experience in the Fokker DVII which he's been flying in the air shows since July.

Bill is an accomplished pilot and a member of the "Iron Eagles" Aerobatic team which flies Christen Eagles. He has been the lead pilot in our D-25 rides plane for most of this season. Bill is also an A&P and has been helping on our many projects.

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1914 Morane Saulnier N Back On Display

VOILA!!!! The 1914 Morane Saulnier N "Bullet" is now ready to greet visitors as they first enter the Aerodrome courtyard. As a static display aircraft with an original fuselage, it represents a design that is considered the precursor to every modern day fighter. A heartfelt thanks to longtime Aerodrome volunteer Paul Savistano for his long hours refurbishing the Morane’s Gnome Rotary engine, fabricating a new spinner and the work done on the aeroplane’s fittings and landing gear. Some details are still being worked on with regard to attaching an appropriate era machine gun and instrument panel, but we invite you to take a close look during your next visit and ask about those curious metal fittings bolted to the prop.

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With the beautifully refurbished Curtiss OX-5 engine in place, the Aerodrome’s 1911 Curtiss D is poised to rejoin our flight line. Chief Mechanic and Pilot - Chad Wille- is optimistic that, weather permitting, we'll be able to do a full engine run up before Winter sets in and if all goes well, another unique and gorgeous pioneer aircraft will once again grace the sky over The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Much thanks to Chad and the volunteers who are responsible for making this aircraft airworthy. A special thank you to Aerodrome pilot Bill Gordon (a formal introduction to this man, who has been an enormous help this season will appear in the coming weeks ) for the fine work not only on the Curtiss wheels, but on the fittings for the center section of Cole’s Great Lakes.

Watch for updates on the Curtiss Pusher and Cole’s Great Lakes.
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The Curtiss Pusher Model D is undergoing a major engine upgrade. The 80 HP Hall-Scott motor that previously powered the Curtiss Pusher is being replaced with a 90 HP Curtiss OX5 engine from the Aerodrome's collection of aircraft engines.

The HAll-Scott engine removal and the OX5 installation were done in the museum building where the Curtiss Pusher was displayed this past year. After the OX5 was set in place the Curtiss Pusher was "walked" to the restoration shop at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome airstrip for final installation and test.

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Family and Friends of Paul Richards dedicated a plaque to the Cole Palen's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in memory of Paul. Paul was instrumental in the establishment of the Aerodrome and continued to be a passionate and tireless advocate until his untimely death in 2005.

Paul's brother Loren made the dedication and Stan Segalla and Paul Heimbach accepted it on behalf of the Aerodrome.


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On Sunday, September 10th, the Capital District Chapter of the Model T Club of America rolled in to ORA. They came from Albany, Ballston Spa, Newburgh and Hudson. What a beautiful day for a ride it was! Some even brought along their lunch cooked on the engine while driving. The menu included pulled pork and apple dumplings. Thanks to all the cars for stopping by on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.


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On Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10, the 2006 Rhinebeck Jamboree took place, hosted by the Mid-Hudson Radio Control Society. The Jamboree celebrated its 40th anniversary of meeting at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.


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On Sunday we had a visit from Paul Martinello of Company E 102nd Regiment CT. They are a WWI reenactment unit. Paul set up camp in the court yard and attracted much attention with his mix of original and reproduction WWI gear.

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Long time Aerodrome friend George Dragone, of Dragone Classic Motorcars in Bridgeport, CT, returns ORA’s 1917 Ford Model T after extensive restoration by his shop. In addition to the new paint, George and his restoration wizards installed a starter and generator system.

Take time to visit Dragone Classic Motorcars on the web at www.dragoneclassics.com. Dragone Classic Motorcars’ work can be seen at auto shows around the country including Pebble Beach. Click on the image to view the SlideShow

Many thanks to George

Aviator Kian flew his clip wing Albatros from Michigan to ORA in order to check out the Aerodrome’s Albatros.

Click on the image to view pictures of Kian...

We are late in posting these pictures. Our apologies to all. The Spitzie's Albany-Schenectady Harley Davidson Group roared into the Aerodrome on Sunday afternoon July 16. Joining them were members of the Danbury, CT group. The rows of beautiful bikes lined the courtyard. Our own volunteer, Amanda, strolled among them picking out her favorites. Both groups enjoyed the show as much as we enjoyed having them visit the Aerodrome. Thanks to everyone for stopping by.

Cole Palen’s Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome is proud and excited to be a part of the premier of the upcoming film FLYBOYS. Flyboys, based on a true story, is the compelling tale of the first American fighter-pilot squadron to see action in World War I. The film was directed by Academy Awards-winner Tony Bill and written by Oscar-winning screenwriter David S. Ward.

A post screening auction will be held; whose proceeds will benefit the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. The special advanced screening of FLYBOYS will take place at the Warner Theater in Torrington, CT on August 26, 2006 at 7:30 pm. For more information call the Warner Theater at 860-489-7180. Also visit www.flyboysthemovie.com and www.warnertheatre.org

Part of the Warner Theatre's Artist & Author Series
SPECIAL ADVANCED SCREENING!
FLYBOYS EXCLUSIVE CT PREMIERE!
Saturday, August 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Ticket Information:

General admission: $15.00
Gold Circle Reserve Tickets: $50.00*
Special 10% discount for veterans and pilots with identification (Does not include Gold Circle tickets).
Group Sales Available. Call the Box Office for Details.
Limited seats on hold for Warner Theatre Members
*Includes admission to the screening and post-screening VIP Champagne Reception. Limited availability

More Information:

FLYBOYS, based on a true story, is the compelling tale of the first American fighter-pilot squadron to see action in World War I. Soaring high above the earth in a fragile, flammable, open-cockpit biplane, outracing better-equipped enemy aircraft, and knowing the average life expectancy of a fighter-pilot is at most six weeks, this is the daring and heroic story of the men of the Lafayette Escadrille. Barely a dozen years after the invention of powered, controllable flight, these pilots invented, experimented with, and simply dashed headlong into the modern era of aerial combat.

Directed by Academy Award®-winner Tony Bill (My Bodyguard, Five Corners, The Sting), written by Oscar®-winning screenwriter David S. Ward (The Sting) and produced by Dean Devlin (Independence Day, The Patriot) and Marc Frydman (Scenes of the Crime), this exclusive screening of FLYBOYS is a special event to benefit the Warner Theatre and serves as the premiere of the theatre’s new digital projection system! The Warner audience will be some of the first seeing the film before its national release which is slated for late September!

The FLYBOYS’ cast features Golden Globe Award®-winner James Franco (James Dean, Spider-Man 1 & 2) , Martin Henderson (The Ring, Bride and Prejudice), Jean Reno (The Da Vinci Code, Mission: Impossible), and French newcomer Jennifer Decker.

The premiere event will feature a special introduction by the Academy Award®-winning director (and Litchfield County resident) and an exclusive post-screening VIP Champagne Reception and silent auction. The auction, whose proceeds will benefit the Cole Palen’s Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, a "living" museum of antique aviation, includes a chance to win a ride over the picturesque Hudson River for four people in a classic 1929 New Standard open-cockpit biplane courtesy of the aviation museum located in Rhinebeck, New York!

For more information about FLYBOYS visit www.flyboysthemovie.com

Progress continues on the restoration of ORA's vintage automobiles. Volunteer Deb Kyler completed new seats for the 1916 Studebaker touring car.

Pictured is ORA visitor Gary Doyle and ORA's Albatros D.V. Gary was particularly interested in seeing the Albatros D. V up close because an ancestor flew one in the Royal Prussian Jagstaffel 3 in WWI.

June 17, 2006: The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome opened the 2006 season on Saturday June 17, 2006. Despite the forecast of good weather, the morning saw medium to heavy rain. By noon the rain stopped, the weather improved and the show went on.

On Saturday June 17, the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome will begin its 47th season, opening on Fathers Day weekend. The 2006 season will run through October, with air shows every weekend, weather permitting. The gates open at 10am, the air show starts at 2pm and ends at 4pm, and the Museum is open daily 10am to 5 pm. As in previous seasons, in keeping with ORA founders Cole and Rita Palen’s desire to keep prices affordable for our visitors, ORA plans to hold the line on admission prices and only slightly increase Biplane rides in spite of record fuel costs. As in the past, there is no charge to park your car.

We are pleased that two of Cole’s earliest friends and pioneer pilots are returning this season. Bill King, with his 1934 DeHavilland Tiger Moth, and Stan Segalla, the original ‘Flying Farmer’ with his stock Piper PA-11, will continue to thrill crowds as they have since the first shows.

The Aerodrome currently has four aircraft out for total professional restoration: the 1914 AVRO 504K, the second 1929 New Standard D-25, the 1929 Curtiss Fledgling and the 1929 Velie Monocoupe 113. Both the AVRO and the second New Standard are nearing completion, with a planned return this season. In addition, the oldest flying aircraft in the country, our 1909 Bleriot XI, has had its original, rare Anzani ‘Y’ engine freshly overhauled and is ready to be reinstalled.

Cole’s original 1931 Great Lakes 2T-1A is in the process of having a new fuel tank refitted and should be operational again very soon. Another Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 owned by Neill Herman is currently on the field, bringing the total of Great Lakes biplanes at the Aerodrome to three. Neill, a CFI and an accomplished taildragger pilot, has been training at the Aerodrome for the past 2 seasons and will be making his air show debut this season.

We want to welcome our newest ORA Board member Mr. Hugh Schoelzel to the Aerodrome family. Mr. Schoelzel brings to the Board a unique blend of experience from a career as a TWA Airlines Chief Pilot in addition to a comprehensive background in general aviation and business. He will be a welcome addition to the Board, and replaces original Board member Mr. Paul Richards who passed away unexpectedly this last November.

Marc Wortman, author of the book "The Millionaires Unit" will be talking about his new book on July 16th at 11:30am at the Aerodrome. The book is about "The Aristocratic Flyboys Who Fought the Great War and Invented American Air Power".

"Mr. Wortman gives vivid, hair-raising and sometimes horrifying accounts of individual dogfights and crashes. Sometimes the language is a bit hard to follow for a nonaviator, but one can always get the general picture. The determination to fly in combat again and again by these heroic young men -- who regarded any change to less arduous duty as a violation of their mission -- is magnificent and appalling."

Come see him talk at 11:30am on July 16th, you will be able to talk with the Author and he will be signing books!

With the advent of Spring, the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome opened its doors to over 300 Boy Scouts, their Troop Leaders and parents. Scouts from all over the area camped on aerodrome grounds the weekend of May 13 seeking to gain a unique access to the aircraft in our collection, speak to the pilots and work toward their merit badges in aviation. Aerodrome volunteers were stationed at various locations about the property offering instruction on such topics as aircraft maintenance, pre-flight inspection, components of lift and the history of ORA. As a special treat, the scouts were able to hear first hand about the history of aviation from long time aerodrome volunteer and Eagle Scout Bill Poythress, a man who has not only lent his skill and passion to Old Rhinebeck since the 1950's, but was integral in the design of American military aircraft during the Second World War. We'd like to thank the troops for all the help in getting the aerodrome ready for this season and for allowing us to impart our love of antique aviation to the next generation of enthusiasts.

To our Members and visitors. We are pleased to report that a vintage engine, a 160hp Gnome Rotary reported missing from the collection has been found. We are relieved to have it back and thank the efforts of the New York State Police. The investigation is still ongoing since it's discovery last Saturday. We will keep you informed of any more developments, as they are made available to us.

In an effort to consolidate the many books in the Museum's collection, plans have been made to convert the late Cole and Rita Palen's master bedroom into a library. Here books, magazines, manuscripts and manuals in the collection could be organized and inventoried. This has been a long time goal of Aerodrome pilot Dan Taylor. "Every Museum has some kind of library" said Dan, "So it's only logical for Old Rhinebeck to do the same". "It took some time to get people here convinced, but I think everyone will see it'll be worth it" he added.

Volunteer Mike DiGiacomio added his carpentry skills to make all the shelving and John Walsh added finishing touches by helping stain the many sections needed so completion is drawing near.

Track lighting and a reading table will complete the space and the long arduous task of cataloging books will begin. "The main goal is preservation and education" Taylor added. "Many volumes are the result of generous donations from Museum members and they'll rest next to many that Cole Palen acquired over the years". "Once things are up and running we hope to make the library available for museum members and students researching early aviation, to view. It may take some time to meet that goal but we're hopeful it will be worth it."

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Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome - PO Box 229 Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Phone: 845-752-3200 Fax: 845-758-6481 Contact Us