Old Rhinbeck Aerodrome's Spirit of St Louis

[Spad54]

The restoration is complete now in taxi trials may very well have its first flight this week

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfSVsP8_x2g

[napacon]

Watching With Misty eye.....The Sound Smoke and fire ...ORA will be enriched for ever with this.....Thnx to all...and the boys at GAS!

[Ian Warren]

Without actually saying the word ... a dang 'Classic' ... that was a classic ... you would want to be well practiced/versed in driving that one in such a confined space .. now who did that scenery again for that airfield ? ... may have been one off the fellas in that video ?

[Spad54]

Without actually saying the word ... a dang 'Classic' ... that was a classic ... you would want to be well practiced/versed in driving that one in such a confined space .. now who did that scenery again for that airfield ? ... may have been one off the fellas in that video ?
Falcone did the scenery in 2013. The team at ORA is using a Robin J-1 flown from the back seat as a trainer. It quite an achievement. ORA id a national treasure supported by individual donations and volunteer hours. A unique and magical place

[napacon]

Yes Of Course..the Great
ORA" NY 94 by Falcon409...wonderful scenery of this historic air strip., The Old Crates fly here and so too will That historic RYAN...by next Spring ! would think it will be a Huge draw at the
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/beana51/screenshot1043_zpsc2vsmrdf.jpg (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/beana51/media/screenshot1043_zpsc2vsmrdf.jpg.html)

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/beana51/screenshot1044_zpsfqiubyzi.jpg (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/beana51/media/screenshot1044_zpsfqiubyzi.jpg.html)

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/beana51/screenshot1045_zpsh6esybr8.jpg (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/beana51/media/screenshot1045_zpsh6esybr8.jpg.html)

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/beana51/screenshot1046_zps3ebfmzde.jpg (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/beana51/media/screenshot1046_zps3ebfmzde.jpg.html)

[Ian Warren]

Falcone did the scenery in 2013. The team at ORA is using a Robin J-1 flown from the back seat as a trainer. It quite an achievement. ORA id a national treasure supported by individual donations and volunteer hours. A unique and magical place
Thanks for lead Spadmiester :untroubled:

[huub vink]

People did weird things in those days. An aircraft without forward vision! In FS2004 it was already nearly impossible to fly it for me. :dizzy:

[Tuor2112]

They wanted the large fuselage fuel tank to be ahead of the pilot in event of a crash!

[Roger]

I was going to suggest downloading Craig's Spirit of St. Louis aircraft, updated to FsX native from Classic Wings...but his site appears to be down at the moment.

[JimH]

When they ran up that Wright radial engine there were flames shooting out of the short exhaust stacks. Pretty cool. I wonder if that's possible to do in FSX.

[gray eagle]

I was going to suggest downloading Craig's Spirit of St. Louis aircraft, updated to FsX native from Classic Wings...but his site appears to be down at the moment.

I found it here, link was working for me.

http://www.classicwings.net/#!aircraft--s-/v0gkh

[Roger]

I found it here, link was working for me.

http://www.classicwings.net/#!aircraft--s-/v0gkh


Thanks! My shortcut didn't work.

[Maj Kong]

They wanted the large fuselage fuel tank to be ahead of the pilot in event of a crash!

Surely you are pulling our legs here :devilish:.

It was more likely a matter of getting a Center Of Gravity for all that weight.

Believe me: NO pilot wants to be sitting behind a fuel tank :running:.

[Tuor2112]

From Wikipedia (so it must be right lol!)

At Lindbergh's request, the large main and forward fuel tanks were placed in the forward section of the fuselage, in front of the pilot, with the oil tank acting as a firewall. This arrangement improved the center of gravity and reduced the risk of the pilot being crushed to death between the main tank and the engine in the event of a crash. This design decision meant that there could be no front windshield, and that forward visibility would be limited to the side windows. This didn't concern Lindbergh as he was used to flying in the rear cockpit of mail planes with mail bags in the front. When he wanted to see forward, he would slightly yaw the aircraft and look out the side.

So we are both right!

[napacon]

How could one not revisit This ??

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/beana51/screenshot1056_zpsw3z0gsa2.jpg (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/beana51/media/screenshot1056_zpsw3z0gsa2.jpg.html)


IT COULD BE DINGLE BAY...THAT POINT TO THE NORTH THERE....THE SHAPE IS RIGHT...THOSE ISLANDS OFF TO THE RIGHT THERE...THAT FITS...THAT LINES UP RIGHT......IT IS DINGLE BAY "

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/beana51/screenshot180_zps36qvga3i.jpg (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/beana51/media/screenshot180_zps36qvga3i.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

Some of the clips from the Youtube video of the ORA 'Spirit', especially towards the end, as it is taxiing toward the camera, just about look like they came straight out of the Jimmy Stewart film.

I first learned of Old Rhinebeck, and their 'Spirit' reproduction, in 2001, and I've been dreaming of seeing it completed ever since. Progress on the aircraft came to a halt/languished for quite some time, after Ken Cassens and some of the other good people left ORA in the early 2000's. Fortunately there were eventually some positive changes made and Ken Cassens returned a few years back and progress started again, otherwise the ORA 'Spirit' would not be where it is today.

It is a fantastic recreation of the original aircraft - not as accurate as John Norman's reproduction being built in Washington state, but by far the most accurate airworthy example completed to-date. An operating Wright J-5 Whirlwind (just like the original had) is an incredibly rare thing itself (John Norman's reproduction, which is being made an absolute clone of the original, also has a Wright J-5). The EAA's replica, for instance, is fitted with a Continental R-670, and that is what the sound recordings came from for the FS2004 'Spirit' - so that is why it sounds different than the Wright J-5 on the ORA 'Spirit'.


Ever since acquiring TrackIR, I have gotten a lot more enjoyment out of flying the 'Spirit' in the sim. I enjoy the challenge of the lack of visibility out of the cockpit, coupled with its very unique flying characteristics - due to the fact that it lacks "inherent stability" (actually exhibiting negative dynamic stability), just like the real thing (and reproductions). As one of the guys in the "One Six Right" documentary told - he had built a flying model of the 'Spirit' as a kid, and when he finally ended up actually meeting Lindbergh in person, he told Lindbergh about the model and how awful it flew - Lindbergh replied that it must have been an accurate model, as the real thing flew the same way. Or like how one of the EAA's 'Spirit' pilots described - it's like flying a bathtub on a pivot.


Here is where you can follow the progress on John Norman's 'Spirit' reproduction, which will also be flown when completed: http://www.jneaircraft.com/
On this one, no single detail is being left out/changed from the original (which John has had full access to at the Smithsonian, while it has been on the floor). The story about recreating the fuel tank "patch", just because there is a patch in the original, perfectly illustrates the "insane" level of attention to detail/accuracy to make it an absolute exact copy. It's not too far from completion either.

John Norman's definitive 'Spirit of St. Louis' reproduction:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/14821779684/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/14821055891/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/14821056961/in/photostream/
http://www.antiqueairfield.com/articles/show/1840-update-on-the-spirit-of-st-louis-replica-in-washington-state

[Bomber_12th]

I've done a number of flights in the 'Spirit' out of Old Rhinebeck since back in FS2004 with Joe Binka's scenery, and of course several times now since the GAS/Falcon409 scenery was released, in FSX. The latest news/video about the ORA 'Spirit of St. Louis' was more than enough inspiration to make a few more recent flights.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp1_zps4dtoegkc.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp1_zps4dtoegkc.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp2_zpsccif4kpa.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp2_zpsccif4kpa.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp3_zps7o4qp4hj.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp3_zps7o4qp4hj.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp4_zps92yqe4t3.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp4_zps92yqe4t3.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp5_zps4qb8wzxn.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp5_zps4qb8wzxn.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp6_zpsgwat2fqu.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp6_zpsgwat2fqu.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp7_zpsilqkgus5.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp7_zpsilqkgus5.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp8_zpsikiycjvx.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp8_zpsikiycjvx.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp9_zpszn53b9n3.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp9_zpszn53b9n3.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp10_zpsmbyljkcu.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp10_zpsmbyljkcu.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp11_zpsfbluv3hw.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp11_zpsfbluv3hw.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp12_zpsv2yrbrv5.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th148/ryan_nyp12_zpsv2yrbrv5.jpg.html)

[normb]

Great topic! I flew into Rhinebeck a few times in an old Aeronca Champ years ago. Cole Palen was always around and a true gentleman. Always had a smile and answered our questions about the old birds.

The shows were great but sometimes the visiting arrivals and departures were just as entertaining. Even a twin or two. Apaches I seem to remember.

Just curious, anyone got a tally on how many "Spirit" reproductions were built over the years? For the Jimmy Stewart movie I think three were built ( I still have the old Air Progress magazine that told about them). Then the EAA bird. Then the one that folded a wing in Europe.
Now the Rhinebeck bird. Did someone mention another one?

Norm

[Bomber_12th]

Regarding 'Spirit of St. Louis' reproductions:

- An exact copy of the 'Spirit', dubbed the Ryan NYP-2, was built by Ryan for a Japanese news paper company, shortly after Lindbergh's transatlantic flight - https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/4590583644/in/photolist-7ZDWzS
After achieving a number of record-breaking flights itself, in 1928, it was destroyed in a crash.

- A number of Ryan B-1 "Broughman" aircraft were converted over the years into 'Spirit of St. Louis' reproductions. The first instance was as early as 1938, for the film "Men With Wings".

- Three Ryan B-1 "Broughman" aircraft were converted into 'Spirit of St. Louis' reproductions for the 1957 Jimmy Stewart film, "Spirit of St. Louis" - all survive today, on static display. (Another, slightly scaled-down, non-flying replica was also built for the movie, and it also survives today.)

- Frank Tallman had a reproduction built and flown for the 40th Anniversary in 1967 - it was named "Spirit 2". That aircraft would then be displayed at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, until 1978 when it was destroyed by fire.

- The San Diego Air & Space Museum had another reproduction built after losing their first one, which they named "Spirit 3". It flew for the first time in 1979, and was displayed for many years before flying again in 2003, for the 75th Anniversary of the historic flight - it has since been displayed static again.

- The EAA Museum has built two different reproductions. One was built from a Ryan Broughman and was flown in 1977, to mark the 50th Anniversary of Lindbergh's flight - it has since been displayed static inside the EAA Museum. The second one began as a scratch-built/from the ground-up reproduction, starting in 1977, and first flying in 1990 - this one still flies today.

- David Cannavo built a reproduction in 1979, and it was purchased by Kermit Weeks in 1995. Weeks flew the aircraft shortly after purchasing it, but it hasn't been flown in many years. (This aircraft was sent to Paris for static display at an airshow back in 2013, before returning back to Florida - in the lead-up to this event, some work was done to make the aircraft more accurate to the original.)

- There was a replica that was built/operated out of Estonia, first flying in 1997 to mark the 70th Anniversary, but in 2003, shortly after takeoff at an air show in the UK, it suffered structural failure, killing the pilot/owner.

- The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome has one of the most authentic/accurate reproductions of the 'Spirit' ever built, now completed and soon to fly.

- JNE Aviation (John Norman) is well advanced on what is/will be the absolute "definitive" reproduction of the 'Spirit' - likely to be completed within the next year.

[normb]

Wow! Good info. I'm going to save it with my other "Spirit" stuff. More birds built that I would have guessed.

Another question: Didn't Pete Bowers (in his historical aircraft articles) say that a "reproduction" could only be built by the original manufacturer (or builder) and that the others were technically "copies"? So the one built for the Japanese was a reproduction and the others copies? Or did I imagine that?

Thanks
Norm

[Spad54]

taken Wednesday 11/25 and posted to the ORA FB page

https://youtu.be/tDXK3YLxGDk

https://www.facebook.com/groups/oldrhinebeckaerodrome/

[Bomber_12th]

With Ken Cassens at the controls, she made her first flight today at Old Rhinebeck! Early videos/photos being posted here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oldrhinebeckaerodrome/

[DaveSHQ]

The one from FS9 ports over nicely

[Bomber_12th]

The one from FS9 ports over nicely

Yes, especially if you install the converted FSX-native model file for it available here: http://www.classicwings.net/#!aircraft--s-/v0gkh

(http://www.classicwings.net/#!aircraft--s-/v0gkh)http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/nyp_nat_2.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Little%20Friends%20I/nyp_nat_2.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/nyp_nat_7.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Little%20Friends%20I/nyp_nat_7.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Sea%20Fury/nyp_8.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Sea%20Fury/nyp_8.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/nyp_nat_8.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Little%20Friends%20I/nyp_nat_8.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

In-case you don't read it on the ORA Facebook page, here is a great report of the day's flight, written by Clay Hammond, who has been one of the individuals directly involved with the project.

"Spirit of Saint Louis first flight. - I thought a recap of the day might be in order. Morning broke clear and calm, no wind, blue sky. Ken had finished last items on checklist to completion. No reason not to. Frost this morning, but forecasted temps in the 50's by lunch hour. We pulled the Robin out about 11 and shot an hour's worth of landings with Ken in the back seat again and the cardboard blocking the forward view. After getting to the point where he felt a groove setting in we called it good and Ken decided to give it a go. Ken, Mike DiGiacomio, and I had a short discussion briefing the intended flight and Ken's intention to climb up overhead, circle for a short period, feel out the aircraft, and then return for the first landing. Crew pulled the NYP out and Ken climbed in. We commenced with starting procedure. Took three proppers and ten minutes to get it going, still figuring that out a little. Warmed it up for 15 minutes or so. Good sound, good temps using an infared thermometer, ready to go. Tim Haggerty and I climbed in the Robin to fly a high cover and to get some stand off photography. Launched in the Robin and started climbing for altitude. Five minutes later observed Ryan pull onto runway lane and start its roll. Ken climbed up to altitude promptly, around 3000 feet, we circled above him the whole time, making it a point to deconflict and also observe for other traffic. Tim was shooting with a nice long lens the entire time. Observed Ken do a couple stalls, steep turns, dutch rolls...feeling it out. He circled for a while longer and then started heading down. We in Robin descended in trail, staying off the right rear quarter. Ken made one low pass to shoot the approach at speed one time, and for the benefit of those on the ground, then came around for the landing. Stayed on his wing all the way around. NYP lined up on the runway, descended nicely down into the notch, rounded out just beyond the road and proceeded to float, and float, and floated some more. Touched down about even with the sausage factory. Rolled out and down the north end a ways. Mike D was down there to wing run and assist if needed. Circled around into pattern and landed the Robin. Shut down and walked over to Ken, who was cooling down the Whirlwind on the NYP. He said the stalls are extremely docile, no tendency to drop a wing, everything straight ahead and sets up into a steady and stable mush rather than any hard break. Better visibility than Robin, which is good! Means the Robin served as a good trainer, making the job harder than it was. Ken stated that on takeoff he noticed a great deal of nose heaviness, to the point that he subsequently inputted full aft trim and kept it there for entire flight, yet was still holding back pressure on the stick at all power settings. In calculating the weight and balance for the NYP on paper, everything had pointed towards a tail heavy situation, leading us to install a significant amount of lead ballast in the nose section just ahead of the firewall. After the flight Ken has decided to remove half of this weight to bring the aircraft into better trim. No adjustments necessary for roll or yaw tendencies. Additional test flights ahead to dial in the pitch. All in all Ken stated that it is a wonderful flying machine that he is very happy with!"

Hopefully we'll see some air-to-air photos/video at some point!

As related in a recent "Flying Magazine" article about the ORA Spirit of St. Louis, it is actually a closer match to the way the original Spirit looked at the time of the Trans-Atlantic flight, than the current configuration/look of the original as it is displayed at the Smithsonian (due to later modifications and other work that was done to it following the Atlantic flight).

[Bomber_12th]

BTW, I don't know if the ORA Spirit of St. Louis will ever venture out of Old Rhinebeck airspace, visit other airshows, etc., but the John Norman (JNE) Spirit of St. Louis, which is being built as an absolute clone of the original (even more so than the ORA example), will be flown on a nation-wide tour in 2017, like Lindbergh did after the NY to Paris flight. Of course 2017 will be marking the 90th anniversary of the original Atlantic flight and 48-State tour. The family of one of my childhood friends still has an original photo, passed down through a couple generations, of the original Spirit of St. Louis at one of its stops here in Minnesota back in 1927.

[Bomber_12th]

Here are some fantastic air-to-air images by Tim Haggerty from today's first flight, as shared on the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Facebook page:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th161/12339558_1633175253612515_5600895239430346453_o_zp sjggo1ztr.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th161/12339558_1633175253612515_5600895239430346453_o_zp sjggo1ztr.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th161/12339587_1633175596945814_7710224690307382633_o_zp sag9u2mur.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th161/12339587_1633175596945814_7710224690307382633_o_zp sag9u2mur.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th161/12356833_1633174673612573_6534264105912529222_o_zp sjehtar3l.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th161/12356833_1633174673612573_6534264105912529222_o_zp sjehtar3l.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th161/12304398_1633175280279179_8451865899201067930_o_zp sysiovfiy.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th161/12304398_1633175280279179_8451865899201067930_o_zp sysiovfiy.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th161/12339671_1633175426945831_2819366469652737277_o_zp srgjayjew.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th161/12339671_1633175426945831_2819366469652737277_o_zp srgjayjew.jpg.html)

[Spad54]

Here is the press release for the first flight

http://oldrhinebeck.org/ORA/<wbr>rhinebeck-aerodrome-museums-<wbr>spirit-of-st-louis-<wbr>reproduction-has-flown/#more-<wbr>3371 (http://oldrhinebeck.org/ORA/rhinebeck-aerodrome-museums-spirit-of-st-louis-reproduction-has-flown/#more-3371)

[Bomber_12th]

A nice AP video report here: http://www.wiscnews.com/video/ndn/video_4c9c5de1-5858-5c7f-a442-184132904ed7.html

The aircraft has already completed several successful test flights since its first flight last Saturday.