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And Dave, as far as farming stuff out-- I'm about to go back out to the shop after lunch, and in our shop is a 1929 Monocoupe which belongs to Old Rhinebeck. In fact it was Cole's second airplane, back in the 1950s. He sold it, bought it back in the '70s, rebuilt it, and flew it for a few years in the shows, dressed as a woman (Monocoupes were known for being flown by woman pilots). The owner of our shop, who restored and owns his own Monocoupe, made a deal with ORA, a deal arranged by Tom Polapink, to restore the ORA Monocoupe for only the cost of materials, the labor is free (and we've been working on finding sponsors to cover the material cost). Since bringing it here he has been frustrated by the lack of communication from Rhinebeck (since Tom was forced out), and by the apparent lack of knowlege of what is involved here. I really don't think such a deal would be made under today's circumstances, unfortunate as we've already talked about what other aircraft up there we'd like to work on when the 'Coupe is done (maybe finish the Sopwith Dolphin). The Monocoupe still makes progress, done as a tribute to Cole, and despite the lack of communication from ORA.
And what about the story of the two volunteers who rebuilt the Liberty engine to running condition, and the Hall-Scott on the Curtiss pusher. Sounds like invaluable help, but it is my understanding that they will no longer have anything to do with the place, because of the events discussed here.
AK
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