Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome facts for kids
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| Established | 1966, broke ground 1958 |
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| Location | Rhinebeck, New York |
| Type | living aviation museum |
| Collection size | Pioneer Era aircraft WW I aircraft Golden Age (1919-39) aircraft |
| Founder | Cole Palen |
| Public transit access | Rhinecliff-Kingston (Amtrak station) |
The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome is a special kind of museum in Red Hook, New York. It's called a "living museum" because it has many old airplanes that can still fly! These planes are from the early days of flight, World War I, and the "Golden Age" of aviation (between the World Wars). The aerodrome also has many old cars that can still drive.
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Exploring the Aerodrome's History
The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome was started by a man named Cole Palen. He was inspired by another airplane collection in England. Cole loved to fly the planes himself during weekend airshows. He even had a fun character he played called "the Black Baron of Rhinebeck."
These airshows are still happening today, from mid-June to mid-October. You can even take a ride in a biplane before or after the shows!
Fun and Entertainment at the Airshows
Cole Palen wanted the aerodrome to be more than just a place to see old planes. He wanted it to be a fun day out for everyone. The weekend airshows grew to include funny plays, like old silent movies. These plays feature characters Cole created, such as the brave Sir Percy Goodfellow. He battles the evil Black Baron of Rhinebeck to save the lovely Trudy Truelove.
Special Events and Model Airplanes
The aerodrome also hosts special events for old cars and specific types of vintage aircraft. They even have events for model airplanes! People fly small, detailed models of planes from 1903 to 1939.
These model airplane events have been happening since the aerodrome opened in 1966. One big event takes place every year in early September, after Labor Day. Model airplane enthusiasts come from all over, even from Canada and Florida!
Leadership and a New Chapter
When Cole Palen passed away in 1993, a non-profit group called the Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum took over. This museum is officially recognized by the New York State Board of Regents.
Sadly, in 2015, a fire destroyed the museum's gift shop and its collection of model airplanes.
Amazing Aircraft at the Aerodrome
The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome has many amazing aircraft. They range from planes like those built by the Wright brothers to biplanes and monoplanes from the 1930s.
Fokker Triplane and Sopwith Pup
One of Cole Palen's first planes for the museum was a reproduction of a Fokker Triplane. This plane had a special old engine called a Le Rhône 9J rotary engine. Cole flew it often in the airshows until the late 1980s. Today, this plane and another Fokker Triplane reproduction are on display. One is even on loan at the New England Air Museum.
To go against Cole's triplane, his friend Richard King flew a reproduction of a Sopwith Pup. Richard helped Cole start the aerodrome. He flew his Pup, which had an original 80-horsepower engine, for many years. He stopped flying it in the 1980s and later sold it. It has since returned to Rhinebeck and flies regularly.
The Sopwith Dolphin and Other Planes
In 1971, a copy of the 1910 Short S.29 plane was built. Cole Palen also built a very accurate reproduction of a Sopwith Dolphin. This was the first time anyone had built a flying copy of this plane! It flew regularly in the airshows from 1980.
In 1990, the Dolphin had an engine problem and landed in some trees. Luckily, the plane wasn't badly damaged, and the pilot was safe. The Dolphin was then put on display. In 2007, the aerodrome began restoring it to fly again. When it's finished, it will look like the planes from No. 19 Squadron.
Another German plane in the collection is an Albatros D.Va reproduction. In 2015, it was painted to look like the plane of a famous pilot named Eduard Ritter von Schleich.
The museum also has a restored 1909 Bleriot XI. This plane has an original three-cylinder engine and is thought to be the second oldest flying aircraft in the world!
In 2016, a very accurate copy of the Spirit of St. Louis was added. It took 20 years to build and first flew in December 2015.
The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome has also had two flying copies of the Fokker D.VIII. These were built by Brian Coughlin. They have special rotary engines. One of these D.VIII Fokkers returned to the Aerodrome in 2016.
A Rare Incident
On August 17, 2008, during an airshow, a pilot was involved in an incident. His reproduction French Nieuport 24 plane crashed into a wooded area. Sadly, the pilot passed away from his injuries. This was the first time such an incident had happened during an airshow at the aerodrome.
