Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome

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The Collection: 1919-1940 - Golden Age

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Aeromarine Klemm L-26-A

1919-1940 - Golden Age
(Static Exhibit)

Country: United States
Year: 1929
Engine: LeBlond 5D
Horsepower: 65
Wingspan: 40 ' 2"
Top Speed: 97 mph (156 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 1590 lbs (721 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Original

This Klemm design originated in Germany in 1925. It featured two-place tandem seating and was powered by a variety of low-powered radial engines. The type was popular with sportsmen aviators and was built in many countries through 1936. It was outstanding for its ease in handling and slow flight characteristics. The Klemm is of all wood construction and was designed to be disassembled in minutes. The portable Klemm could often be seen being towed behind cars and stored in garages.

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Aeronca 65-TAC Defender

1919-1940 - Golden Age
(Under Restoration)

Country: United States
Year: 1941
Engine: Continental
Horsepower: 65
Wingspan: 35 '
Top Speed: 109 mph (175 km/hr)
Original/Reproduction: Original

The 1941 Aeronca Defender was a popular tandem trainer version of the earlier Aeronca Chief. The advent of WWII made them ideal primary trainers, and later, as liaison and observation aircraft for the Army Air Corps and U.S. Navy. Only a few of the Aeronca L-3s (military version) made it overseas. The Piper L-4 and Stinson L-5 liaison/observation aircraft were used extensively in Europe and in the Pacific to great acclaim.

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Aeronca C3

1919-1940 - Golden Age
(Static Exhibit)

Country: United States
Year: 1936
Engine: Aeronca E-113C
Horsepower: 36
Wingspan: 36 '
Top Speed: 90 mph (144 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 1006 lbs (456 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Original

The ubiquitous Aeronca C-3 was affectionately named “The Flying Bathtub.” It first appeared in 1931 powered by Aeronca’s 36 hp., two-cylinder, air-cooled engine. The aircraft was an ideal trainer with easy handling and slow landing speeds. With side-by-side seating, it is rumored that new students could solo in as little as five hours when training in the C-3. New airworthiness standards ended production in 1937 after some 430 had been built.

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Aeronca Champion 7AC

1919-1940 - Golden Age
(Active)

Country: United States
Year: 1946
Engine: Continental
Horsepower: 85
Wingspan: 35 '
Top Speed: 95 mph (152 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 1220 lbs (553 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Original

Production of the Aeronca Champion began in 1945, just in time to meet the post-war demand for sport flying. It proved to be an ideal primary trainer with docile handling characteristics, good cruise speed and fuel range. The roomy, tandem cockpit offers front solo seating and excellent visibility. Nearly 8,000 of the economical Champions were built and remain popular with taildragger pilots today.

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American Eagle A-129

1919-1940 - Golden Age
(Static Exhibit)

Country: United States
Year: 1929
Engine: Kinner K-5 Radial
Horsepower: 100
Wingspan: 30 ' 6"
Top Speed: 105 mph (168 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 2020 lbs (916 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Original

The original 1926 American Eagle was powered with the 90 HP. Curtiss OX-5 engine. Many variants utilizing different engines followed. The American Eagle was known to be gentle and easy to fly. It was an all-purpose biplane that seated three passengers. The installation of the lightweight Kinner engine forced designers to increase the length of the nose to make the aircraft balance properly. This long nose alteration earned the American Eagle the unfortunate nickname of “Anteater.”

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Arup S-2

1919-1940 - Golden Age

Country: United States
Year: 1933
Engine: Continental A-40
Horsepower: 36
Wingspan: 19 '
Top Speed: 97 mph (156 km/hr)
Original/Reproduction: Reproduction

The Arup (pronounced “Air-up”) S-2 flying wing is an aircraft design right out of a Buck Rogers movie! This remarkable machine was designed by Raoul Hoffman and first flew in 1933. It is reported to be able to reach over 90 MPH and has a very low stall speed of only 23 MPH. The novelty of flying this space age, saucer-shaped aircraft will be realized soon.

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Bird Model CK

1919-1940 - Golden Age
(Static Exhibit)

Country: United States
Year: 1931
Engine: Kinner B-5 Radial
Horsepower: 125
Wingspan: 34 '
Top Speed: 110 mph (176 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 1990 lbs (903 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Original

The 1931 Bird CK is the 8th model produced by the new Bird Aircraft Corporation, successor to the failed Brunner-Winkle Aircraft Corporation. This Bird CK is one of 42 equipped with the reliable 100 HP Kinner B-5 radial engine. They were quite popular with aviators of the day and could carry up to three passengers. In later years, Bird aircraft were used for banner and glider towing along with crop dusting.

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Boeing Stearman – N2S-5

1919-1940 - Golden Age
(Active)

Country: United States
Year: 1943
Engine: Lycoming R680-4P-B4
Horsepower: 225
Wingspan: 32 ' 2"
Top Speed: 124 mph (199 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 2717 lbs (1232 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Original

The Boeing Stearman N2S-5 is the US Navy version of Army’s PT-13 and 17 models. It was one of 1,450 of this type that saw service as a primary trainer at bases around the US. This aircraft saw service at NAS Memphis (Park Field) during WWII. In total, some 10,600 Boeing Stearman aircraft helped to train thousands of pilots in the US and in Canada during the war.

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Curtiss Fledgling

1919-1940 - Golden Age
(In Storage)

Country: United States
Year: 1929
Engine: Curtiss Challenger
Horsepower: 170
Wingspan: 39 ' 1"
Top Speed: 102 mph (164 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 2700 lbs (1225 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Original

The Fledgling was inspired by a U.S. Navy request for a new training aircraft. The Curtiss design was chosen by the Navy as it easily was modified to fly on land or on water. The twin open cockpits, rugged build, gentle handling qualities and powerful Wright Whirlwind engine made it an ideal military trainer. The civilian version, the Fledgling, incorporated all the same qualities but with the less powerful Curtiss Challenger engine.

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Curtiss Robin

1919-1940 - Golden Age
(Under Restoration)

Country: United States
Year: 1929
Engine: Wright J-6-5
Horsepower: 165
Wingspan: 41 '
Top Speed: 115 mph (184 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 2523 lbs (1144 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Original

The Curtiss Robin is probably best remembered as the aircraft that Douglas “Wrongway” Corrigan used in 1938 to make a non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean from NY to Ireland without proper authorization. In fact, he had been denied permission to make the flight. Corrigan claimed his intention was to fly back to Long Beach, CA and blamed his arrival in Ireland on a navigational error after flying 28 hours and 13 minutes.

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