Old Rhinebeck.

[Ginger.]

Has anyone been there?it looks brilliant in the book I've just got.Every picture is in colour,one plane is The Von's tripe with streaky comouflage red tail,top wing and nose wih Voss's face on it.But the best is an Albatros built by Cole Palen.The woodwork is a golden yellow,there is a black and white stripe behind the cockpit and it has a white rudder-what mobs that then?
If I can afford a trip to the land of Uncle Sam Rhinebeck is where I'm going.

I was in Rhinebeck last summer. It's a lot of fun, and a real education to boot. There is no sound like that of a Gnome rotary running up. The museum's pretty cool, too.

My in laws live within spitting distance and I go there all the time - have since I was a young boy in the 60's. Hung out with some of the mechanics and wrangled rides in Stearmans and Tiger Moths - never a WW I plane - though they let me sit in the cockpits. It is a great place to visit - nothing beats the sound or the site of these incredible planes - lovingly and accurately restored. Cole Palen really gave a gift to this nation - it is a treasure !

Let me know when your coming - I'll wrangle a visit to Rhineback that weekend and treat you to dinner in town !

Best Wishes,
John

The book should have a scratch and sniff with the smell of castor oil. Cole Palen claimed that he was the second largest purchaser of castor oil in the nation, second only to the cosmetic industry. I don't know if you still can, but you used to be able to fly in (with permission) and park on the east side of the runway, where you could set up tailgate style by the airplane and get a bigger dose of the fragrance unique to castor oil.
The show itself is very entertaining for all ages.

>Has anyone been there?

Even met Micheal Skeet there Plenty of pics of it at;

Aircraft of Old Rhinebeck

cam
Australian Flying Corps Website

[leo]

Even geezers get to Old Rheinbeck and I had the opportunity to visit twice. On one trip I got to fly in a 1929 biplane whose pedigree escapes me. It was a blast. The DV was in the process of construction at the time, but you could see it was going to be super.

leo

I've been several times, most recently two years ago, first trip probably about 1975. While it's a shame that Cole Palen isn't there anymore, the staff has managed to maintain the spirit that he instilled in the place. It's a must visit for any WW1 aviation enthusiast with the ability to get there. Saturday is the old-timer's show (basically pre-war) and Sunday is the WW1 era. See both if at all possible. I have fond memories of breakfast at the Copper Kettle in Rhinebeck and dinner at the--ah, heck, the converted stable with great steaks and I can't remember the name, damn it! Lunch from the concessions at the field itself, naturally.

Yes, there is NOTHING like the sound and smell of a rotary engine. Watching the Camel rock its wings with each blip of the motor as the ground crew walk it back in after a landing. The Albatros is beautiful. The Dr.1's paint scheme is outrageous, but fun. Taking a flip in an open-cockpit biplane. (Went up years ago the day after the pilot's birthday and he did some aerobatics in it--real exciting!)

Sigh. Now I gotta go there again...I miss it!

I went there this summer.Got to agree with Dave& others- just to take in the 'parfum de castor oil' is the most indescribably incredible thing.The DVa is to worship at,at least.Spad's a gem ,too. I took my 2 yr. old son,now his world is 'airplanes,airplanes,airplanes'....mission accomplished,I guess.I definitely suggest at least one pilgrimage, if you can. JimR

[Ginger.]

Sounds great!!!I have been to see the Shuttleworth collection fly,and there are usually WW1 planes at Duxford's Flying Legends.But from the book and what is written here Rhinebeck sounds a magical place.

It should go without saying that the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome is a MUST for ALL vintage aircraft aficionados. The staff, since the passing of Cole Palen, has done a great job of continuing the tradition. The airshows of Saturday and Sunday are "fun for the entire family" and both are most worthy of a visit. If you can not attend, might I suggest a membership in their musuem foundation. Membership is availible at different financial levels, with increasing benefits, one of which (for all levels) is their quarterly newsletter, Rotary Ramblings, which features events, promotions, aircraft histories and updates. They also do special events for a multitude of organizations. Last year I put together a vintage Saab automobile wing-ding during a September Sunday. This July Saab USA "rented" the aerodrome for their own Friday mini airshow, in conjunction with their nearby national Saab owners convention. Etc, etc. Join up, send money, as of course it is for a great cause. I am not an employee, although I did work there back in the summer of '71. Today, seven year old son Riley and I are groupies, as we live less than two hours away, so we visit 5 or 6 times a year, and ALWAYS have to go for a ride in the 1929 New Standard. The sights, smells, and sounds are like no where else in the world. Hope to see you there, or at least get you there, in person or newsletter. Try; the Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum, PO Box 229, 44 Stone Church Road, Rhinebeck, NY 12572, or 845-758-8610, or www.oldrhinebeck.org.