History in the sky at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome

By Nicole Edwards
Poughkeepsie Journal

There are signs heading toward Rhinebeck that urge travelers to get outdoors.

Maybe it's the heavy rain the Northeast experienced all spring, but trees lining the winding, slightly hilly roads along Route 9 seem fuller than usual. Stretches of grass almost cry out for bare feet. Then there's the exhilaration of witnessing nature's wonder when deer can be seen roaming between the thick of the woods.

Another sign that summer is here is that Cole Palen's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique airplane museum is in full swing.

The museum houses a collection of planes, photographs and memorabilia, starting with the pioneer era of aviation at the turn of the 20th century, when brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright developed the first successful airplane.

Other eras covered include World War I, when nations competed to create the best aircraft for battle, and the golden age of flight from 1919 to 1939, during which time Charles Lindbergh made his famous flight from New York to Paris in 33 1/2 hours in 1927.

Displayed inside the museum is a collection of antique aircraft, including one that won all major European air races in 1911 and made the first demonstration air mail flight in the United States. Others, such as the Thomas Pusher, Model 2 built in 1912, set records by flying for nearly four hours.

Late founder and curator of the museum James Henry ''Cole'' Palen flew that plane from the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome to New York City, where he and the plane appeared on the CBS television game show ''I've Got a Secret.''

Plane exhibits are supplemented by displays of aircraft engines, a 1909 Merkel-Light motorcycle, a few cars and even a cameragraph film projector dated around 1915.

Five members of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International, Al-Mon-O Pennsylvania Unit explained they visit aircraft museums wherever they find them. They were impressed with Rhinebeck's antique plane collection.

''I didn't think there was going to be this many planes,'' said Virgil Powala of West Newton, Pa., about the Rhinebeck museum.

Palen, a pilot and aircraft collector, founded the museum and conducted the site's first air show in 1960. Early shows even involved melodrama. Air shows continue to be a Saturday and Sunday tradition at the museum. Planes are paraded to entertain crowds on and off the ground as pilots showcase the planes' skills or chauffer guests for a fee.

''One of the things is that it is a living museum and one of the few places in the world where the public can see this vintage flying first hand,'' said air show coordinator Jim Hare. ''Seeing history brought back to life is unique. ... You don't see too many antique planes anymore. It's really education through entertainment. It's part airplane factory, part museum and part live theater. It's family oriented and it's not just a stuffy museum where kids get bored.''

The museum buildings contain about 40 planes and about 15 are used for flying on the weekends.

Lee Ferris/Poughkeepsie Journal Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome pilot Brian Coughlin takes off in a Boeing Stearman PT-17 past the crowd on opening day Saturday, while antique cars pass in the opposite direction.

Hare said the museum would like to plan a feature on women in aviation. Right now, the focus is on the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers. Helping the museum recognize the brothers first flight are three replicas of their planes, including the 1903 flyer, the 1902 glider and the 1911 Vinfiz plane that was flown from New York to California.

Coming in July, Hare said the annual Marion Jayne Air Race will pass through Ulster and Dutchess counties. One of the stops will be the aerodrome, where participants will be giving demonstrations. Plans are also in the works to honor John Miller of Poughkeepsie, who is well into his 90s and continues to fly.

Be sure to take advantage of the area's riverfront historic sites, summer concerts in the parks, antique shopping, farmers markets, restaurants, art galleries and boutiques on and around Montgomery and Market streets. There is no shortage of live theater and independent films are showcased at Upstate Films.