Cole Palen's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome

Harris Hawk · 15 February 2005, 09:48 AM

As I recall, it was a SE5. I also recall it was a donation, possibly from a local tech school. It was either old or not properly built to fly or both. I looked at it close-up one day and determined that where it was, was the best place for it. I remember a day in April, Cole was recovering from surgery and just "puttering" around the grounds. No one else was around, may have been an event at the Fairgrounds or something else, was just a strange experience for a nice spring day. When I found him, he was cutting up the ol' SE5 and feeding the bits to a bonfire. I'll always remember that day, just the two of us, working, talking, laughing....boy, did he have an infectious laugh.....me listening to some of the old stories.....then Cole apologizing for telling stories he knew I had heard before. No matter, I treasured them all, no matter how many times I heard them.
Yes, it was a great afternoon. I regret that Cole died later that year, I regret that I never got the opportunity to have another one on one afternoon with him. Most of all, I am grateful that I had THAT afternoon.......

tazbat · 15 February 2005, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travelaire4000

My 1st biplane ride was with Cole in the Waco 9 Miss Pittsburgh at Stormville Airport at the age of 6...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harris Hawk

I'll always remember that day, just the two of us, working, talking, laughing....boy, did he have an infectious laugh.....me listening to some of the old stories.....then Cole apologizing for telling stories he knew I had heard before.

Thanks for your memories. I never got to meet Cole, only those who truly represented him after his death.

I hope you folks keep posting the memories. They are great!

Salute!

SL DIII · 15 February 2005, 09:42 PM

Paul914 -
Dick Day privately owned his Snipe and Camel while they were flying at the Aerodrome. It wasn't until he sold them later on that they became parts of other collections. As I understand it, Cole hired Day to fly them in the shows.

Eric G, Harris Hawk & rc-notyme-
Early on there was a Sopwith Camel mock-up that smoldered on the hill across the runway. I have heard that it was built by high school students. Here's a picture of it in the courtyard near the entrance in the early 1970s, before it deteriorated to the condition that led it to become the burning prop on the hill. I think if you look closely at the film "Cole Palen's Flying Circus" there is a quick scene of it with a light colored coat of paint (to look more like the Pup), being blown up.

Later on, a plywood S.E.5a appeared on the hill taking place of the Camel. Most of the SE5 mock-up can be seen on the cover of Dick King's book, The Skies Over Rhinebeck. I think you can also see a quick shot of that airplane at the very start of "C.P's Flying Circus" video when Cole opens the barn door.

SL DIII

17 February 2005, 05:23 PM

By the 1980s the wreck on the hill was a plywood S.E.5. It was donated, but I do not know by who. It was never ment to fly, but I don't know it's original purpose either.

Cole put there to create audience interest. He knew that everyone who sees an airshow secretly is hoping to see a crash. Cole once told me that if he could guarantee that no one would get hurt he would stage a crash at every show. From the audience perspective it was a very realistic prop. After one of the Mooney's crashed at the north end on takeoff following a Sunday show, the FAA/NTSB investigators went over to the hill thinking that was the wreck they were to investigate. I heard that when they realized their mistake, they said that they just wanted to "check it out". They then continuted to walk all the way to the edge of the woods by the dog-leg at the north end - known as "Mooney Parking".

20 February 2005, 09:10 PM

I remember when I was with the ground crew at ORA, I asked Jim Hare if the Curtiss hangar was the first hangar that Cole built at the aerodrome. Jim told me that it was indeed the FIRST hangar erected on the aerodrome grounds. Also, in EGB"s book, there is a photo of the aerodrome during the winter of 1959. The only building standing is the Curtiss Hangar. I have also done some research of some old photos I came across of the aerodrome, and hangar No.1 that was just recently torn down did not show up until some photos dating 1965. So, the info I have found so far seems to agree with what JH told me. If anyone else has any more info on this, please share it with us.

Happy Landings,

PIET

EricGoedkoop · 23 February 2005, 01:54 PM

Found this from a link posted down in the Pioneer section about a recent PBS program. I didn't catch the show, but the PBS site has this neat walkaround of the ORA Bleriot XI narrated by Dan Taylor.

Enjoy!

curtisswright · 23 February 2005, 06:26 PM

The Show was terrific. The old footage of Santos Dumont et. al. was great as was the film of Wilbur Wright's demonstration in France. I'll leave it there because I don't want to ruin it for anyone who has not seen it yet. It is well worth anyone's time!!!

curtisswright · 23 February 2005, 06:28 PM

The "New" Bleriot was beautiful also!!!

tazbat · 23 February 2005, 08:56 PM

Check it out! http://www.oldrhinebeck.org/

Salute!

EricGoedkoop · 24 February 2005, 05:23 AM

You beat me to it, Taz - I saw the new site this morning. It looks great!

The Collection page has been updated and there are new photos of lots of the old planes. I think this is the first time I've seen the Nieuport II covered!

Very nice, I must say.