New Hanger Contruction...

[John Masters]

I just drove past the ORA after having lunch in Rhinebeck. The digging has begun for something, I don't know what., bachoes, trucks, workmen, etc...
They have dug out the hillside to the north of the current SPAD hanger, behind where Der Bad Boyz and The Sausage Factory were placed and where the mock-up SE-5 used to be. It seems like a pretty big operation--a good 50 yards long and 50 feet in. So that's it for now. I must say that I hate the warning signs reminding me that the Police are to be informed if there are any suspicious goings on--like a green Ford Focus pulling off to the side of the road on a Wednesday afternoon, and the driver spending some time staring at the new contruction...

From the Factory Recon,
John

[tazbat]

It won't be long and I will be making the journey to Rhinebeck. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to get some photos to publish. I am curious to find out how the hangar, a modern steel building, will be made to look like a 1920 era hangar.

The benefit of having a place to completely shut out the elements while storing eight members of the collection will be a great one. But, what affect will its presence have on the barnstorming atmosphere of the rest of the show grounds? Will it overwhelm the effect of the village or natural beauty of the background? Hopefully, these won't be affected.

Salute!

[tazbat]

I visited the Aerodrome last Saturday and none of the structure had been erected. In the dismal rainy morning all there was to see was the cold gray slab of concrete surrounded by water logged earth.

Yesterday, I had the privilege to talk with Bill Horrigan, the new Air Show Director Plus. I say plus because he is doing a lot more than just being the acting show director.

Bill briefly discussed the progress of the hangar. It is three quarters complete as of the afternoon of 5-5-05. The hangar is as you see in the pictures on the Aerodrome's website, entirely made of steel similar to a quonset hut. But this will fit into the time period of the Barnstorming Era, because it has vertical nine foot walls on which sits the arched roof. Although in 1920 most hangars of this type were made entirely of wood, some were constructed in all steel panels. Bill's only reservation on the new hangar is the brightness of the galvanized surface. "But, it will dull in a short time," was his response. The old #1 hangar facade has been moved to the Museum building and put on display.

The new hangar has yet to be named. It will have a basic electric service, to operate the doors and provide lighting. The doors are hung on over-extended rails and slide horizontally, just like in the old days. The only difference is these will be operated by electric motors.

What does this mean in other ways? It means plenty of storage room, enough for eight planes. It also means that the Ryan Hangar will eventually become the permanent residence for the Spirit of St. Louis.

Salute!

[tazbat]

Here are photos of the hangar as of last Saturday, June 4th. The doors appear to be all that are left in order to finish the construction.

In the second photo you will see some light shining inside through a missing roof panel. According to Stan Segalla, the manufacturer short shipped one piece. They sent the piece, but didn't send anyone to install it. It won't be an easy job, since the rest of the structure is complete. I don't understand why they didn't install a piece where the hole is and leave the missing panel off at the end. Maybe there is more to the story than what Stan was telling.

Salute!

[John Masters]

On this past Wednesday the hole in the roof seemed to have been fixed and there were 3 planes in the hanger. The DVII, Albatros, and the biplane they use for biplane rides.


JDCM

[tazbat]

According to Dan Taylor on Saturday, June 25, Mike Lawrence will be painting the new hangar to give it a more period look. He didn't say what it was to be painted. It sounded like maybe a final decision had been reached.

Salute!