Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
By Jay Smith
It has been eight years since my trip to Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in New York, but the passage of time has not dimmed my memory of what a special place it is. For anyone with an appreciation for World War I aircraft and their pilots, Rhinebeck provides the opportunity to closely inspect early fighter aircraft and come away with a better understanding of their construction.
This insight helps one to imagine what it was like to be taken aloft on fabric-covered wings and perform in an aerial ballet with an opponent over the trenches and war-torn earth, using your skills, the agility of your aircraft, and some luck thrown in to decide who wins the dogfight.
Seeing the aircraft, engines, weapons, and gear up close is certainly interesting, but getting to experience some of these early marvels of aviation take to the sky and perform for the crowd is amazing.
While at Rhinebeck, your feet need not remain planted on the ground. A flight in a 1929 New Standard D-25 biplane can be purchased, which allows the experience of open cockpit flying while above the Hudson River and surrounding area.
The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome is a special place with plenty of history. It also complements aeromodelling thanks to its founder, Cole Palen, who was keenly interested in Free Flight models.
The Model Airplane Museum, located next to the gift shop on the field, houses many of Cole’s model aircraft.
This year, on September 7 and 8, an RC model air show complements the weekend full-scale air show. This gathering of aircraft of all sizes only happens once a year.
Anyone who appreciates early aviation should add the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome to his or her list of must-see attractions.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
