World War 1 Aeroplanes, Inc., and Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum

NexStar7 · 19 June 2006, 12:09 PM

CFG can sugarcoat the happenings at Old Rhinebeck all he wants. Everytime a negative situation surfaces, he turns it around as if they are a positive thing - time and time again! We are not uneducated fools CFG, and we all realize the handwriting is on the wall : the beginning of the end is taking place at ORA. I won't be surprised one bit if the "RETIRED" aircraft eventually end up down under, New Zealand way! The more us death-watch mentality people are assured of "brighter days" at Old Rhinebeck, the closer and closer it circles the drain. And currently, ORA is extremely close to that drain, once it goes down that drain, there will be no coming back! Those are the facts, and all the assurances or predictions of good things to come at ORA from CFG or anyone else do not mean a thing!!!! ORA is slowly but surely being cleaned out of its inventory, eventually heading to places unknown as of yet! These scum of the first order have it already planned out as what is to become of Old Rhinebeck, and we shall surely see it unfold before our very eyes! Cole Palen always said "an airplane is NOT an airplane unless it flies", - but now we have: retired aircraft! GIVE ME A BREAK!!!! It hurts me very deeply to say this CFG sir, Old Rhinebeck will NEVER be the place it once was! WHY? Because Cole Palen was a "MAN"!!!!!!!!! Currently, there are NO men in charge at ORA!

CodyPaul · 19 June 2006, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfgray

Since you asked, here it is, CodyPaul, -

Earlier this year many people, some very well informed and familiar with these matters and some with an unceasing death-watch mentality, were speculating that there would not be an airshow season at all this year. There were dire predictions that the airshows were over. That has proven to be untrue, even though the airshows are certainly not nearly up to Cole Palen's standard.

If the Jenny and the Bleriot, etc. are not flying, they are unlikely to be damaged. I, and probably many others, wish the Camel had been "retired" before being damaged. If the material and financial assets of Rhinebeck Aerodrome are preserved without damage or destruction or loss, then that is to the good. Once things have been put right then it will be just that much easier to bring Rhinebeck Aerodrome back to something closer to its former glory.

I believe there will be a brighter day and that Rhinebeck Aerodrome will once again be the place it once was.

Remember, the Missing Gnome was, in fact, forced to reappear... so, anything is possible.

Stay positive, keep active.

Best,
cfgray

Thank you for answering so quickly. Apparently the post I based my statement about the planes being retired has been edited. Only the Jenny and D.VII have been retired. That still doesn't leave them much to fly, or people to fly them however. True, if they aren't flown then they are preserved without damage or destruction. But whats the point. We can see static planes all over the country. Only at Rhinebeck could they be seen to fly. Are there any plans to repair what they currently have or to acquire others? Even if others brought in their own replicas to fly and show, it would improve the outlook. There would be planes to fly and see and revenue would increase as a result. And since there would be different planes every weekend depending on who came people would be more likly to keep coming back to see whats there this time. With the bad (press, outlook, standing whatever) that the trustees have would they be willing to ask and would anyone be willing to come? If enough could swallow their animosity it would certainly help. Would anyone here be willing to? What would the BoD think CFG?

19 June 2006, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfgray

If the Jenny and the Bleriot, etc. are not flying, they are unlikely to be damaged. I, and probably many others, wish the Camel had been "retired" before being damaged. If the material and financial assets of Rhinebeck Aerodrome are preserved without damage or destruction or loss, then that is to the good. Once things have been put right then it will be just that much easier to bring Rhinebeck Aerodrome back to something closer to its former glory.

HOw can there be a museum if there are no air shows? Do not the air shows provide the money to maintain the museum? I know that the museum alone generates very little revenue. So, if all the aerodrome planes end up static what will provide for the upkeep of the collection, the buildins, etc.? Wasn't Cole known for sayin, "We fly them, wreck them and rebuild them"? Why is it that the way Cole did it worked so wonderfully well and the way the boards are doin it is a disaster? Why is it no one can do anythin about this whole barrel of crap? You say that by next season, everythin should be much better. What in your mind is better? How can it get better by gettin worse? Why anythin can get better if you have enough shekels to pour into it. I know a person who never checked their oil and three years later, forked out a couple thousand for a new engine. Checkin and changin the oil would have been far cheaper but wasn't that person's idea of how to do it. Since Tom Daly's comment of everythin is goin to be bigger and better, I have heard of nothin but decline. Makes me glad I live too far to visit.

A friend emailed me that the membership program has been halted. Is that why my membership check hasn't been cancelled?

I also thought that the museum was going to be open year round, but I read that sometimes the doors are closed during the week? What do you know of this?

Why are we expected to be patient, or to keep the faith, or whatever you want to call it but not know what is happenin or goin to happen. For instance, the Gnome engine deal, how long does it take to put two and two together? Is someone bein protected like in the past? People write about how terrible the show weekend was which is worse than any season ever and we are supposed to be positive.

19 June 2006, 07:04 PM

How bad will it get before the state steps in? All of us agree that it is not soon enough. But at some point it will happen and certain people will get the boot. I for one would rather not see the 1918 Jenny in the hands of an inexperienced mechanic, or have the rides plane fly with a jet jockey pilot and a full load of passengers with crosswind conditions. Better to be static planes for a while than to end up like the Camel and Nieuport did.

Remember how Cole Palen started? He had a small savings that he bid on six old airplanes from Roosevelt field. One at a time he hauled them to his folk's home to work on. In time he bought a derelict farm, with stone walls and a swamp draining across it. That was the difficult start of ORA, a lot of hard work started by just one man.

There are a lot of folks reading this and the Rhinebeck Museum Trouble thread. Just think if all of you were willing to lend a hand under the proper management, don't you think that together we could accomplish at least some of what Cole did?

AAC Cadet Leader · 19 June 2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAL

Just think if all of you were willing to lend a hand under the proper management, don't you think that together we could accomplish at least some of what Cole did?

I believe you're right CAL! Under correct leadership the lot of us could try come close to matching what that one incredible man started and nurtured by himself.