Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome

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The Collection: 1896-1913 - Pioneer Era

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Nieuport 2N

1896-1913 - Pioneer Era
(Static Exhibit)

Country: France
Year: 1911
Engine: 28 HP Nieuport / 100 HP Gnome
Horsepower: 28 - 100
Wingspan: 27 ' 6"
Top Speed: 74 mph (119 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 700 lbs (318 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Reproduction

Designed and flown by Édouard Nieuport, this low-powered monoplane set a world speed record of 74 mph in May 1911. Later in July, C.T. Weymann, representing the U.S.A., won the Gordon Bennet Trophy race in a Gnome-powered Nieuport at 78 mph. Nieuport became a world-famous brand during the many competitions of the Pioneer era.

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Passat Ornithopter

1896-1913 - Pioneer Era
(Static Exhibit)

Year: 1910
Engine: Motorcycle Engine
Horsepower: 6
Wingspan: 24 '
Original/Reproduction: Reproduction

The whimsical Passat Ornithopter is quite possibly the most aerodynamically challenged aircraft in the collection today. Though its history of flight is quite dubious, it did in fact ‘fly’ in the 1965 movie: “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines.”

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Short S-29

1896-1913 - Pioneer Era
(Static Exhibit)

Country: United Kingdom
Year: 1910
Engine: ENV
Horsepower: 60
Wingspan: 46 ' 5"
Top Speed: 40 mph (64 km/hr)
Original/Reproduction: Reproduction

The acquisition of a rare French ENV aircraft engine inspired Cole Palen to build a replica of the aircraft it once powered, an English Short S-29 biplane. The machine honors the daring pioneer aviator, Cecil Grace, who flew this aircraft competitively in 1910. Grace was lost during a competition for the longest flight from England into Europe.

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Thomas Pusher Model E

1896-1913 - Pioneer Era
(Static Exhibit)

Country: United States
Year: 1912
Engine: Curtiss OX-5
Top Speed: 50 mph (80 km/hr)
Original/Reproduction: Original

Cole Palen restored this rare, 1912 Thomas Pusher biplane flying it regularly for about two years. In an epic stunt, Palen flew it nearly 100 miles (in three, calm, very early morning hops) to New York City, landing at Flushing Airport. Trucked into Manhattan, both plane and pilot starred in a 1965 episode of the well-known TV show, “I’ve Got a Secret,” hosted by Steve Allen.

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Voisin

1896-1913 - Pioneer Era
(Static Exhibit)

Country: France
Year: 1908
Engine: Various
Horsepower: 50 - 65
Wingspan: 32 ' 10"
Top Speed: 35 mph (56 km/hr)
Original/Reproduction: Original

The French Voisin biplane of 1908 garnered worldwide fame after setting many records. In 1909, it inspired an American to create his own version of the Voisin and power it with an engine of his own design. Norvin Rinek is believed to have flown this rare Voisin six times near his Easton, Pennsylvania factory.

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Wright EX “Vin Fiz”

1896-1913 - Pioneer Era
(Static Exhibit)

Country: United States
Year: 1911
Engine: 4 Cyl. Wright Aero
Horsepower: 35
Wingspan: 31 ' 6"
Top Speed: 52 mph (83 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 903 lbs (410 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Reproduction

The “Vin Fiz” piloted by “Cal” Rodgers, became the first aircraft to make a successful transcontinental crossing of the United States by air. The audacious trip included some 75 landings, 16 of which ended in crashes. The repairs added countless days to the trip, which was completed in 49 days, well past the 30-day limit needed to win a $50,000 prize!

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Wright Flyer

1896-1913 - Pioneer Era
(Static Exhibit)

Country: United States
Year: 1903
Engine: Wright
Horsepower: 12
Wingspan: 40 ' 4"
Gr. Weight: 605 lbs (274 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Reproduction

On December 17, 1903 with Orville Wright at the controls, Flyer No. 1, became the world’s first, powered and controlled aircraft to successfully carry a man aloft. In just 12 seconds, Wright flew 120 feet at an estimated groundspeed of 6-7 mph. This seminal event and successive designs would propel the Wrights to world fame. To this day, their success has continuously inspired generations of entrepreneurs, designers and aviators around the globe to achieve countless new firsts in aviation.

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Wright Glider

1896-1913 - Pioneer Era
(Static Exhibit)

Country: United States
Year: 1902
Wingspan: 32 ' 1"
Gr. Weight: 250 lbs (113 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Reproduction

In 1896 Orville and Wilbur Wright started to pursue their dream of powered, controlled flight. The brothers took a scientific approach, utilizing the accumulated knowledge of flight from their predecessors and contemporaries, and through developing scientific experiments of their own. They built a series of gliders to test new ideas on, the 1902 glider was […]

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