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Special: Aerodrome Old Rhinebeck
Photo's: Rob Vogelaar
During a trip to the US Rob Vogelaar visited the Aerodrome "Old Rhinebeck", The
following pictures were taken during a typical weekend show at the Aerodrome. We
would like to thank Aerodrome Old Rhinebeck for their hospitality and great
work. You can visit the Old Rhinebeck website at the following address:
www.oldrhinebeck.org
For the full
list of the aircraft based at Old Rhinebeck click here:
In
the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum antique aircraft are presented in the
surroundings that fits their era. The visitor discovers the sensation of these
aircraft build in the period of 1900 - 1940.
Here
you can see the WW I and barnstormer aircraft in action and experience the
colorful days of the propeller engine's sound and smell the sent of Castrol oil.
The people that work at the Aerodrome are proud to fly the original planes, or
exact copies driven by the original engines.
Cole
Palen is the founder of Old Rhinebeck in the state of New York, he was born as
James H. Palen Jr. on December 29th 1925. He grew up on a small farm near
Poughkeepsie New York, as a kid he was already interested in aviation and he
build a whole range of model aircraft. His first experience in the air took
place when he was 10 years old, he flew for a short trip around
Poughkeepsie in a New Standard biplane.
After
his graduation in 1944 Cole was just in time to participate in the infantry in
the Battle of the Bulge, When he returned to the US he attended the Roosevelt
Aviation School alongside the Roosevelt Air Field, Long Island New York, where he
was trained as an aircraft mechanic. At the school he found a hangar that was
used as a small museum for WW I aircraft. From that time on he dreamed of owning
his own airfield with aircraft from the pioneers-days.
(To view all pictures click arrows left and right to
move through the collection, click the thumbnail to view large picture.)
Avro 504K, Royal Canadian Air Force, C-CYFG Bleriot XI-7 N60094, This Bleriot is the oldest still flying airplane in the United States, and there is only 1 older aircraft flying in the world! Caudron G.III C.1077, N3943P, reconnaissance/observation squadron Italian Air Force. Fokker Dr.1, German Luftwaffe, as flown by Manfred von Richthofen, N3221 Fokker Dr.1, German Luftwaffe, as flown by Manfred von Richthofen, N3221 JN-4H Jenny, US Navy, N3918 Albatros D.VA, German Luftwaffe, N12156 Morane Soulnier A-1, French Air Force, N1379M Morane Soulnier M.S130, French Air Force, N7MS Nieuport 10, French Air Force, N680CP Nieuport 11, French Air Force, N9163A RAF S.E.5a, Royal Air Force, no registration Sopwith Camel B6299, Royal Air Force, N7157Q Sopwith Camel B6299, Royal Air Force, N7157Q Sopwith Camel B6299, Royal Air Force, N7157Q SPAD VII, French Air Force, N8096L SPAD VII, French Air Force, N8096L SPAD VII, French Air Force, N8096L Albatros D.VA, German Luftwaffe, N12156 AVRO 504K 2939, Royal Air Force, N4929 Ryan NYP, N211XC, Replica being built of the famous "Spirit of St'Louis" Ryan NYP, The Original in the Smithsonian Museum "Spirit of St'Louis" Hanriot. Replica, built in 1974, the original comes from 1910. WACO QCF, N11478, is an original from 1931.
This Avro was one of the six origional planes first bought by Cole Palen, it is now at display in Ottowa Canada. It is believed this Bleriot crashed in 1910 during a flightmeeting in Sauguss, When Cole Palen found this frame only 25% was intact, he restaured it and made it fly agian in 1952. Highest flighthight it ever got to is 18 metres. Painted in colors of the Italian Artillery reconnaissance / observation squadron, restaured in 1999 and as good as compleet even the engine is original. The only still flying Curtiss Jenny with a Hispano Suiza engine in the world, the aircraft was build from different airframes. restauration started in 1967, since 1969 this "Jenny" flies with the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum. This aircraft is a replica, build by Cole Palen and his team. first flight was October 1975, it is painted in the colors of Hauptman Eduard Ritter van Schleich, squadron leader of Jasta 21. The only still flying Curtiss Jenny with a Hispano Suiza engine in the world, the aircraft was build from different airframes. restauration started in 1967, since 1969 this "Jenny" flies with the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum. The only still flying Curtiss Jenny with a Hispano Suiza engine in the world, the aircraft was build from different airframes. restauration started in 1967, since 1969 this "Jenny" flies with the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum. Building this replica was started in the 70's and the aircraft was finished in 1992, the Camel got the 10 squadron colors of the Royal Naval Air Services. Building this replica was started in the 70's and the aircraft was finished in 1992, the Camel got the 10 squadron colors of the Royal Naval Air Services. Building this replica was started in the 70's and the aircraft was finished in 1992, the Camel got the 10 squadron colors of the Royal Naval Air Services. "Vieux Charles" is a replica and flies since the spring of 1999 with Old Rhinebeck. Colors of the Escadrille 3's pilot /"Ace" Capt. Georges Guynemer who shot down 53 enemy aircraft. "Vieux Charles" is a replica and flies since the spring of 1999 with Old Rhinebeck. Colors of the Escadrille 3's pilot /"Ace" Capt. Georges Guynemer who shot down 53 enemy aircraft. "Vieux Charles" is a replica and flies since the spring of 1999 with Old Rhinebeck. Colors of the Escadrille 3's pilot /"Ace" Capt. Georges Guynemer who shot down 53 enemy aircraft. This aircraft is a replica, build by Cole Palen and his team. first flight was October 1975, it is painted in the colors of Hauptman Eduard Ritter van Schleich, squadron leader of Jasta 21.
Avro 504K, Royal Canadian Air Force, C-CYFG
This Avro was one of the six origional planes first bought by Cole Palen, it is now at display in Ottowa Canada.
The
Roosevelt Airfield closed in 1951, Plans were made to build a mall at the site,
the WW I aircraft we offered for sale. The Smithsonian museum already bought 3
planes and Cole had to invest all of his savings to buy the rest of the historic
aircraft.
He
then was the proud owner of a SPAD XIII, an Avro 504K, a Curtiss Jenny, a
Standard J-1, an Aeromarine 39B and a Sopwith Snipe. Cole had 30 days to relocate
his aircraft.
In
1959 Cole found a farm near the village of Rhinebeck, on this property there was
a small house in witch an unsolved murder was committed. With the money Cole
made renting out his aircraft to movie makers and others, he bought the property,
and build an airstrip.
With
his bare hands he build hangars of scrap wood and other old materials.
Cole
carried on with collecting aircraft from the early days of aviation up to WW II.
He restored them and flew them regularly. If an original aircraft did not exist
he made a replica driven by the original engines.
The
firs Airshow was held in 1960 for a crowd of around 25 people. Gradually the
reputation of Cole's collection spread out and more people came to see his
dream.
The
simple planning of the early shows lead to the philosophy that not only the
aircraft should be shown in their own original surroundings but that it should
be a great day out for the whole family. That is why the Old Rhinebeck show grew
out to the happening it is now.
In
the spring of 1993 Cole had a stroke, to ensure a good future for his collection
he started the Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum Foundation. thanks to his care and
vision at that point he ensured the future of the Old Rhinebeck shows.
Cole
Palen died on December 8th 1993, with his death an era was closed at Old
Rhinebeck.
Cole
Palen made his dream come thru, nothing was to much to achieve that goal.
To
celebrate the 75th birthday of the first transatlantic flight of Charles
Lindbergh the Old Rhinebeck Museum is working to build an exact replica of the
Spirit of St.Louis. The first flight of the replica should take place at the end
of this year (2002) As soon as the first flight has been made, the Spirit will
be placed in the museum and will be a great feature at Old Rhinebeck for all
visitors to the Hudson Valley.
Special thanks to Tom Polapink,
Director
of the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum.
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