Cole Palen's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome

[Curtiss Jenny]

Arthur Ray Brook's exact words were something to the effect that the cages were for their early communication systems. The NASM people were puzzled, until he explained that the cages contained a homing pigeon. If a pilot was shot down, he was instructed to write a note citing his herebouts, tie it to the bird's leg and release the bird.

So Clay Hammond is correct, congratulations! Clay do you remember meeting Arthur Ray Brooks or any of the other WWI pilots who used to come to the Aerodrome? Do you, your brother, or your folks have any stories that you could share about them? I'm sure a lot of people reading this thread would find it fascinating.

Do you, your brother, or your folks have any stories that you could share about them? I'm sure a lot of people reading this thread would find it fascinating.

I am especially interested. . .

Here is a photo from about the mid-80's, when there were two triplanes flying, one piloted by Cole Pale and the other by Andrew King. It was quite a sight for all to see both triplanes doing a low level fly-by past the audience.

[baldeagle]

Now that's a great photo.....................................

[AAC Cadet Leader]

Sure is!

[Aerodrome Kid]

do you remember meeting Arthur Ray Brooks or any of the other WWI pilots who used to come to the Aerodrome

My only memory is of Mr. Brooks (and I don't really "remember", my mother recounted this to me when I was older, I was probably 4 or 5 at the time) sitting in one of Cole's Cadillac's with me and my brother. He was taking it easy in the car (hot humid summer day) and mom sat us with him to keep him company. Sorry can't remember the conversation We have a picture of it somewhere, will try to find it.

I can't recall meeting any of the other pilots. Johnny Miller came around a lot, I can remember him landing his Bonanza and dad telling me who he was. He's the only other old-timer that I can remember seeing / meeting.

Below is a picture I posted earlier of Brooks and Cole together on a wing of the Jenny. Don't know if it was the same visit or not.

[Aerodrome Kid]

Haven't been able to find the pic I referred to, but did come across a couple more.

Arthur Ray Brooks

[Aerodrome Kid]

Another pic of Mr. Brooks:

Oct. 1985
Ed Lawler flew Mr. Brooks into Kingston in his Cessna 340, Dad flew over to pick them up in the New Standard. The pic is right after they had landed back at ORA, Cole is greeting Mr. Brooks. When Ed landed his Cessna at Kingston, the runway was so narrow that he could only fit the nose gear and one main on the runway, the other tire was in the grass

LtoR: Cecil Neil, Ed Lawler (with back turned), Bill Hammond, Brooks, Cole, Ken Cullen (with back turned, wearing fedora), Todd Scheff. Apologies for mis-spellings.

[Aerodrome Kid]

Some other pics I found:

New Standard getting ready for first flight after construction. Bill Hammond pilot
Dec. 1980

[Aerodrome Kid]

Cub on skis landing at ORA. There was still a lot of activity during the winters, between restorations and repairs during the offseason, and the fun flying that went on.

we would often fly over to, and land on, North Bay on the Hudson, spend the day ice boating and skating.

[Aerodrome Kid]

The Wrong Brothers.

Sorry for the fuzziness, no explanation.