Rhinebeck Museum trouble

[pietenpol]

Regarding those that would rather have the SPAD 7 out of there - HELLO - wake up and smell the coffee! The first WW1 aircraft to fly into the aerodrome all those years ago was the SPAD 13, which now rests gracefully at the Air Force Museum in Dayton. I think it is totally appropiate that ORA now has the Spad 7. Yes it has brakes, yes it has a tailwheel, yes it has a modern Lycoming 0-320 - SO WHAT????? Just because it has all these modern conveniences, I am sure it is still a handful operating it off that strip. Would you rather see a slightly modified SPAD flying routinely or a perfect replica groundlooping all the time or grounded because its original engine gave up the ghost. Its 2004 people, not 1918. As long as the plane is very reasonably accurate on the outside, being slightly modern on the inside will go a very long way to keeping them in the air where they belong. When I see that SPAD in the air, I am not looking at the tailwheel, brakes, or lycoming - I am looking at a SPAD 7 fly! If Cole was still alive he would be the first one to have added that aircraft to its collection and be most proud to have it on the line, earning its keep!
Anyway - I know the Spad doesn't have much to do with the present problems at ORA, but I thought I would add my 2 cents worth, as the SPAD 13 was one of my favorites at the "drome" and I was very sorry to see it go. SO when they aquired the SPAD 7, I personally felt that the gap left by the missing 13 was partially filled by the 7.
When I was still involved with the aerodrome several years ago, I do remember a guy that would fly in from Conn. with an Aeronca Champ. It was a cream colored machine, that had a larger engine than a standard 7AC, although I don't remember how many H.P. it was. I do believe his name was Mark also. This was about the time the "CUB" that GD had "Borrowed" was at the drome. After the cub was let out of the bag, I never saw this Champ or its pilot ever again at the aerodrome whenever I was there, and I continued working there until the last show of the 1999 season. I had heard rumors that GD and this Mark fellow were best buds. Any ideas from anyone whatever happened to this fellow or his Champ.
I also heard from a former ORA volunteer/employee that when the second New Standard went down with engine failure while giving rides, it did not have any insurance on it!!! Makes you wonder what the rest of the collection has in the way of protection in case they are damaged!
I like the pics of the way ORA is supposed to be, those airplanes are the most prettiest when they are in the sky. The only thing that needs to be done is get them a new set of pilots!
So, until next time


Clear Skies,

Strong Tailwinds,
&
Happy Landings

[EricGoedkoop]

Originally posted by pietenpol@Sep 6 2004, 09:43 AM
[b] I think it is totally appropiate that ORA now has the Spad 7. Yes it has brakes, yes it has a tailwheel, yes it has a modern Lycoming 0-320 - SO WHAT????? Just because it has all these modern conveniences, I am sure it is still a handful operating it off that strip. Would you rather see a slightly modified SPAD flying routinely or a perfect replica groundlooping all the time or grounded because its original engine gave up the ghost. Its 2004 people, not 1918. As long as the plane is very reasonably accurate on the outside, being slightly modern on the inside will go a very long way to keeping them in the air where they belong.

Right on, brother!

[tazbat]

Maybe I mumbled wrong.
I never said anything about getting rid of the SPAD 7. It is a beautiful copy and that was never an issue with me. The issue was, modern replicas with amenities not indigenous to the period, replacing all the old flying stock.
My comment about FLYING stock being stuck on static display in order to funnel funds to other interests, was not implying all aircraft not flying was a breach of charter. In the late '90's the typical air show on either day put up between ten and fourteen ORA based planes. The typical in 2004 is six to maybe eight ORA based planes. The weekend I attended in August three non ORA based planes were used in the air show (Coughlin's tridekker, a Great Lakes replica, and Lorraines Aeronca).

Salute and farewell!

I had heard rumors that GD and this Mark fellow were best buds. Any ideas from anyone whatever happened to this fellow or his Champ.

Mark got implicated in the cub incidence, and the friendship ended bitterly. Another victim left in the wake.

To Dick King - what the BOD is doing to you is deplorable! Millionaire Terry McClinch should be ashamed of himself for his association with these tyrants. Their reign of terror is an abomination to everything that Cole Palen established. If there is any way that the members of this forum can help you, please let us know.

To Tazbat - Please have your Florida friend write his first-hand account to Palmquist. Everyone, keep writing!

[AAC Cadet Leader]

EricGoedkoop Posted on Sep 6 2004, 04:52 AM

It's been a long time since they added anything to the show - if I'm not mistaken, that SPAD and the return of the Jenny were the last "new" things.

Hey, don't forget the 1965 helicopter. Thank goodness they got the message on that!

[SteveS]

Originally posted by EricGoedkoop@Sep 6 2004, 08:52 AM
[b]
Speaking of Tripes - is the one that's sporting the Cole Palen scheme now the same one that crashed a few years ago?

Yup, it's the same one. They decided to do Coles color scheme instead of von Richthofen's 152/17. I for one was glad to see his colors once again decorating the skies over Rhinebeck. I was told it had a bad valve seat and was grounded when we were there. Wonder if it is again airworthy? I was also under the impression that this problem was known at the end of last season. If so, They had all winter to fix it........?

Salute,
Steve

[SteveS]

Originally posted by pietenpol@Sep 6 2004, 09:43 AM
[b] I also heard from a former ORA volunteer/employee that when the second New Standard went down with engine failure while giving rides, it did not have any insurance on it!!! Makes you wonder what the rest of the collection has in the way of protection in case they are damaged!

A good question. It's not the first time this has come up. I've heard this also from various people. And worth repeating, thanks.

How many times do we get letters or those annoying dinner phone calls from insurance companies and salesmen hounding us that we need more insurance? I for one must toss out junk mail at least once a month telling me I need more insurance.

Isn't Jim Kick the insurance agent for ORA and also on the Board? Gee, you would think that he would know better than to let the Aerodrome be left wide open for a lawsuit in case of a crash. Hey, come on here, it's his job! He does insurance for a living! Either he's not very good at his job or negligent in his role as a board member. What do you think?

Salute,
Steve

Isn't Jim Kick the insurance agent for ORA and also on the Board? Gee, you would think that he would know better than to let the Aerodrome be left wide open for a lawsuit in case of a crash.

Lets not forget that ORA is a business. As with any business, sometimes it is not economically practical to insure everything. Apparently this was the case with the 2nd New Standard. According to a statement made to the Northwestern (newspaper) just after the crash -

“It’s something that was little more than garbage that we put back together a little while ago,” Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum controller Jan Durand said.

Unfortunately, the link to the article is no longer active, but Pat placed the full text and a photograph on page 24 of this thread.

[wingnut]

[font=Aral][size=7][color=red]
And yet again! And what are we doing to get rid of the Dumpster Slim! Enough , of the Spad is good or bad and pick at this and that. Blah Blah Blah! Besides the forum, which is great. What are you doing at least once a week to really contact some newspapers, state officials, NPR, local politicians, etc. Take a break from the forum and use that time for other contacts. The end of the airshow season is coming soon. This would be a good time for the complete removal of these parasites. Let's go already!

Originally posted by Whosaidrats@Mar 16 2004, 06:44 AM
[b]A pilot in New Zealand says that Gene DeMarco told him that there would be some really neat airplanes coming down there after the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome closed down!