The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - World War 1 Aeroplanes, Inc., and Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum

cfgray · 24 February 2006, 05:12 PM

Some explanation seems in order.

Although we knew about the 160 hp GNOME's disappearance within a few days of the discovery of that disappearance, it was thought best to quietly let the investigation continue, with the hope that the culprits would be identified and the engine would be safely recovered.

That possibility faded substantially as the weeks passed - so it seemed best to make the matter public.

A couple of years ago, the GNOME was overhauled and placed in running order by Fred Murrin - it was ready for use.

We are not doing this on behalf of or at the request of the Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum or Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Airshows, the two legal entities (not-for-profit corporations) which operate at Cole & Rita Palen's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.

The people associated with Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum and Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Airshows have remained essentially silent about the matter.

There has been no communication from anyone at the Rhinebeck Aerodrome. I agree with John Masters and Curtiss Jenny that a large part of the reason that issues surrounding the operations there have festered as much as they have is the institutionalized silence coming from the Board of Trustees - their near-total absence of communication.

We have made the disappearance of the GNOME public on our own initiative, without any discussion with or comment from any of the members of the Board of Trustees or staff or volunteers of Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum or Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Airshows.

In offering to assist with the return or recovery of the GNOME, it seemed wisest to not suggest that people having knowledge of the circumstances of its disappearance contact RAM or ORA Airshows. For what may be obvious reasons, it was thought that a third party might be able to best assist, so we have taken on that role.

The notice which will appear in the next issue (May 2006 - it's a quarterly) of WW1 AERO was placed at our own initiative.

Thanks to everyone with an interest in this and thanks to those with an interest in improving the situation at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.

Best,
Carroll Gray

24 February 2006, 05:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
cfgray Two-seater Pilot Contributor Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Fernando Valley, CA Posts: 261	The CASE OF THE RAMBLING ROTARY - some explanation Some explanation seems in order. Although we knew about the 160 hp GNOME's disappearance within a few days of the discovery of that disappearance, it was thought best to quietly let the investigation continue, with the hope that the culprits would be identified and the engine would be safely recovered. That possibility faded substantially as the weeks passed - so it seemed best to make the matter public. A couple of years ago, the GNOME was overhauled and placed in running order by Fred Murrin - it was ready for use. We are not doing this on behalf of or at the request of the Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum or Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Airshows, the two legal entities (not-for-profit corporations) which operate at Cole & Rita Palen's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. The people associated with Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum and Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Airshows have remained essentially silent about the matter. There has been no communication from anyone at the Rhinebeck Aerodrome. I agree with John Masters and Curtiss Jenny that a large part of the reason that issues surrounding the operations there have festered as much as they have is the institutionalized silence coming from the Board of Trustees - their near-total absence of communication. We have made the disappearance of the GNOME public on our own initiative, without any discussion with or comment from any of the members of the Board of Trustees or staff or volunteers of Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum or Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Airshows. In offering to assist with the return or recovery of the GNOME, it seemed wisest to not suggest that people having knowledge of the circumstances of its disappearance contact RAM or ORA Airshows. For what may be obvious reasons, it was thought that a third party might be able to best assist, so we have taken on that role. The notice which will appear in the next issue (May 2006 - it's a quarterly) of WW1 AERO was placed at our own initiative. Thanks to everyone with an interest in this and thanks to those with an interest in improving the situation at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Best, Carroll Gray Last edited by cfgray; 24 February 2006 at 06:45 PM. Reason: spelling