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Vintage aircraft, especially military ones have always been a fascination for me. One of the very first things I did after immigrating here some 20 years ago was to convert my license to a Canadian one and fly to Oshkosh. I still think that first out of now four trips was the most exciting. I couldn't believe I was joining all these thousands of aircraft and actually landing at the home of sport aviation. Anyway on my long list of trips and Air shows "to Do" was a visit to Old Rhinebeck and a couple of weeks back I was able to tick that one as "done"
First a little history:
James H. Palen Jr. was born on December 29, 1925. The Palen family left Pennsylvania to establish a new home near Poughkeepsie, New York. As a child he developed an early fascination in aviation and delighted in building model aeroplanes when not dreaming of the wonders of flight. His own first flight was to come at the age of ten when he took a short hop in a New Standard biplane at the old Poughkeepsie Airport.
On returning to the U.S. after serving overseas in WW II, Cole entered the Roosevelt Aviation School at Roosevelt Field, Long Island to train as a mechanic. (ed. Roosevelt Field was the center of the aviation world during the 1920s and 1930s. When Lindbergh made Paris in 1927, he introduced to the world - the place of his departure - Roosevelt Field. Numerous famous aviation personalities frequented Roosevelt Field as it was the world's showcase for innovative design). Here he was thrilled to find that one of the hangars contained a small museum of World War I aircraft. He dreamed of one day owning his own unique airfield and flying the early aircraft as he felt they should be flown. Little did he realize that his dream would eventually become a reality.
In 1951 Roosevelt Field closed and plans were laid for a vast shopping center to be built on the site. Accordingly the WWI aircraft were put up for sale. The Smithsonian had already acquired three of the aircraft so Cole quickly bid his life savings for the remainder. Much to his surprise he found he was the proud owner of a SPAD XIII, Avro 504K, Curtiss Jenny, Standard J-l, Aeromarine 39B and Sopwith Snipe. Given thirty days to remove the aircraft, the story of how his new acquisitions were transported to upstate New York would make an epic tale in its own right! It took nine 200-mile round trips to move the aircraft back to the Palen family home where they were stored in abandoned chicken coops. Typical of the trials and tribulations experienced was the story that involved towing the fuselage from the Jenny behind Cole's equally tired old car. When the combination reached the Whitestone Bridge the tires on the Jenny disintegrated. What Cole thought were well-inflated tires actually turned out to be solid wooden wheels with tire carcasses around them! Later, on reaching the suburb of Yonkers more difficulties were encountered when the wheels became jammed in active trolley tracks!
In 1959 Cole found a farm for sale near the picturesque village of Rhinebeck. This property included a small farmhouse in which an unsolved murder had taken place. Around this time Cole earned money through the rental of some of his aircraft to a film company in California that was filming the World War I movie, "Lafayette Escadrille" starring Tab Hunter. Between savings from his employment at Texaco as a mechanic and earnings from the film deal he was able to purchase the property by paying the back taxes that were owed on it. He cleared a runway and built makeshift hangars from scrapped materials with his bare hands and the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome was born.
Cole collected aircraft spanning from the period of the birth of aviation up to the start of World War II he restored them and flew them regularly, and where early original aircraft did not exist, accurate replicas powered by authentic engines were built. A sizable collection of veteran and vintage vehicles was also collected, nearly all in working order.
The first air show took place in 1960 to an assembled audience of approximately 25 people! Gradually word spread of the Palen magic, and shows were held regularly on the last Sunday of the summer months. As demand grew this was changed to the present format of a show every Saturday and Sunday from mid-June through mid-October.
The simple early shows led to a philosophy of not only showing the aircraft in their natural environment, but also providing a fun and entertaining day out for the whole family. From this the air show that Rhinebeck was to become famous for was developed. This included the zany melodrama featuring the daring Sir Percy Goodfellow doing battle with the Evil Black Baron for the hand of the lovely Trudy Truelove.
Cole died in 1993, but through a bunch of enthusiasts and a charitable foundation the Air Show and attached Museum continues.
I left one Saturday morning in Mooney C-GDRN with a pal who is a WWI enthusiast. First stop was Rochester to clear customs. I thought the airfield looked quiet and noticed a number of vintage aircraft in the middle. Waiting for customs the line boy told us there was a little air show that day and in fact the airfield was closing at 10 a.m to all but scheduled traffic for 5 hours. It was now 5 minutes to ten !! Panic, this was NOT the air show we wanted to see. The customs officer was charming and quick but it was now ten after ten. I got on the radio and very politely asked the tower if we could get out before things got under way. Happily he was very obliging and we got our clearance, progressive taxi and take off in record time. Next time I will make sure I check all NOTAMS.
Our destination was Kingston (20N) just across the Hudson River and 5 miles from the Old Rhinebeck strip. Kingston is about 80 miles north of New York. It is beautiful country and full of tourists in the summer so book your hotel early. The approach is over the river and bridge to a short 3100-foot runway. The highlight, just after we landed, was a Citation Jet attempting an approach. He went around the first time but made it the second accompanied by the smell of burnt rubber and very hot brakes. A pilot at the field said in 15 years this was the first jet he had ever seen try it and succeed. The single pilot of the CJ had come in for a meeting. We were all impressed
Old Rhinebeck is like going back in time. A short grass, bumpy strip nestled amongst tall trees, old-fashioned wood and corrugated iron hangers and all the employees, pilots etc dress in period costume of the 20's. There are 4 hangers full of vintage aircraft, engines, photos etc on one side of a narrow road and on the other is airstrip with more hangers full of the aircraft they are using currently. On the day of our visit there was also a show of vintage British sports cars.
The Saturday show is a mix of some WWI flybys, wonderful old aircraft, balloon busting and little events such as the escaped convict who arrives by motor bike chased by the keystone cops and "steals" a plane. Flybys included the Sopwith Camel and German Albatros and a completely 100% original Curtiss JN-4H "Jenny". Small kids loved it as did us "big kids". Sunday is reserved for mainly WWI re-enactments, unfortunately windy weather prevented much of the flying, and so we will have to go back. We got a rain check on our $12 daily entry fee.
The flight back was IMC within 10 minutes after takeoff and the expected line of thunderstorms across lake Ontario had the storm scope flashing like a Christmas tree. We decided the prudent and half expected decision was an ILS into Syracuse to spend the night. We returned to YKZ early on the Monday after a great weekend.