Cole Palen
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Cole Palen was the founder of the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, a living museum of vintage aircraft from 1900-1937 located in Red Hook, New York. He became recognized for his work in the preservation of ea
Palen's restored SPAD XIII, now at the USAF Museum
Airshow flightline showing the slope at the south end of the runway
Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8 replica built by Cole Palen flying at Old Rhinebeck
Palen and friends built this replica of a 1910 Hanriot, shown in front of 'the village'
Spirit of St. Louis
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The Spirit of St. Louis is the custom-built, single-engine, single-seat, high-wing monoplane that Charles Lindbergh flew on May 20–21, 1927, on the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight from Long Is
Cole Palen
…rebuilt on the site and survives near the airport's main entrance. Palen had a workshop at the Florida home, and started to construct a replica of the Ryan NYP, Spirit of St. Louis, Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic aircraft. Having tack-welded the fuselage frame he returned to Old Rhinebeck, but on his next trip to Florida…
The Spirit at the National Air and Space Museum
Part of the funding for the Spirit of St. Louis came from Lindbergh's own earnings as a U.S. Air Mail pilot (January 15, 1927 RAC paycheck).
Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis at Roosevelt Field, with perlée engine-turned finishing on the nose panels.
View of the cockpit.