OLD RHINEBECK AERODROME “MEET THE FOKKERS” WEEKEND, AUG. 8 & 9!
The Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum’s 1917 Fokker Dr.I Triplane and 1918 Fokker D.VII are featured in a special tribute to the best-known German fighter aircraft of their time. See the Fokkers parked in the main courtyard so you can get up close and personal with the aircraft! Aerodrome staff and guest speakers will be available to answer questions about these legendary machines.
Joining them is the uncovered structure of a reproduction 1915 Fokker “Eindecker,” the first fighter aircraft to be able to safely and reliably shoot its machine gun through the arc of a spinning propeller without striking the blades. It did this by means of a specially developed synchronization gear between the gun and the engine.
A “Meet The Builders” forum runs from 10am – 10:45 am in the History of Flight museum building on the hill. This is followed by a “Meet The Pilots” forum, which runs from 10:45 – 11:30 am. The ‘Keynote Speaker’ is Captain Bruce Meyer from the NJ Aviation Hall of Fame, who’ll give a presentation on “Anthony Fokker: The New Jersey Years,”from 11:30 – 12:30pm. On the field, Aerodrome mechanic Mark Mondello talks about the Aerodrome’s own collection of Fokkers in the main courtyard. See large scale Fokker models on display and flying. The schedule is the same for both days.
The Fokker D.VII planes were such fearsome weapons, they’re the only aircraft ever referred to directly in a treaty (Treaty of Versailles); all DVII’s were singled out to be handed over to the allies in their terms of the armistice agreement so they could be destroyed! The Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen (the top scoring WW1 ace) is associated with an all red Fokker Dr.I triplane for some of his 80 victories. In 1928, Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly across the Atlantic as a passenger (from Newfoundland to the Welsh town of Burry Port) did so in a Fokker F.VII piloted by Wilmer L. Stultz. And the United States Army Parachute Team (The Golden Knights) jump from an F-27!
The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome specializes in early aviation. The museum and grounds boast rare authentic, accurate reproduction aircraft from the early 1900’s through the late 1930’s. Every weekend from June to October, vintage aircraft take to the skies to perform exciting airshows. You will love it, no matter what your age or knowledge of engines!
The Museum and grounds open at 10am with air shows on both days at 2pm.
Admission is $20; Seniors 65+ and teens ages 13-17 /$15; Juniors ages 6-12/$5, under age 6/free. Special rate for military personnel /$15. Biplane rides are available for $75 per person on a first-come-first-served basis. Air shows and rides are weather permitting.
Call Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome at (845) 752-3200 or email them atinfo@oldrhinebeck.org. Old Rhinebeck Air Shows and Rhinebeck Aerodrome.
