X
•Museum Opens May 1, Air Shows Every Sat & Sun, Jun 14-Oct 19, Biplane Rides Start in May–845-752-3200 to reserve•
•Plaids & Planes–Highland Games at Old Rhinebeck-May 17, 10-3, Biplane Rides start after the Games•
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • About Us
  • The Collection
  • Contact Us
  • Work At Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
Old Rhinebeck Aerorome Logo

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome

We’re Living History and Family Fun

  • Air Shows
  • Museum
  • Biplane Rides-Lighthouse Tours
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Events
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Flight Nights
  • Air Show Tickets

Fleet Finch 16-B

Back to 1919-1940 - Golden Age

photo of 1942 Fleet Finch 16B in flight

Fleet Finch 16-B

  • : United States
  • : 1942
  • : Kinner R-5
  • 160
  • 28 '
  • 2000 lbs (907 kg)

  • : Under Restoration
  • 21 ' 8"
  • : Original

The Fleet Finch 16B is one of 447 built in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada between 1939 and 1941. Known for their ruggedness and reliability, they were used extensively in the training of Canadian RCAF pilots during the Second World War. The Fleet is a true workhorse of the Aerodrome, balloon bursting, ribbon cutting and bombing every weekend throughout the air show season. It was also used to carry countless camera crews from newspapers, TV networks and magazines from around the world to photograph and experience the Aerodrome from the air.

Finished in bright yellow, this aircraft was the first Fleet Finch that Cole Palen owned, and it may very well have been the first aircraft to touch down on the runway at Old Rhinebeck.  It was originally equipped with a Kinner B-5R engine and was later upgraded to an R-5. Cole Palen purchased this Fleet in 1957 for $900 and sold it in 1962. When the Aerodrome’s other Fleet Finch (N666J) was retired in 2016, we reached out to Bruce Allen of Anna, TX.  He owned Cole’s old N24197 and was willing to sell it back to the Aerodrome. It arrived in June 2017 and has been a steady performer ever since.


Click for more information about the Fleet Finch 16-B


Subscribe to our mailing list

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Things to do

  • Air Shows
  • Museum
  • Biplane Rides-Lighthouse Tours
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Events
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Flight Nights
  • Air Show Tickets

Get involved

  • Donate
  • Education
  • Work At Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
  • Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Facebook Fans
  • Volunteer at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
  • Donating an Item
  • Our Generous Sponsors
  • WWI Aero Publications

About Us

  • Aero-Log
  • The Collection
  • About Cole and Rita Palen
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • About the Website
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Policy
  • Imprint

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Copyright © 2025
9 Norton Rd., Red Hook, NY 12571 (Driving Address)
PO Box 229, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 (Mailing Address)
Telephone: (845)752-3200
Fax: 845-758-6481
info@oldrhinebeck.org

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}