TimAPNY wrote:
I’d really love to hear what others think of Rhinebeck today verses 10 or 20 years ago.
Tim, I was there a year or two ago (which I'll use as "today"), 11 years ago, and 30 years ago.
In some ways, it was best 30 years ago. From a WWI perspective, the airplanes looked most authentic then. There was a strict no engine substitution rule in effect -- no cheating with Warners and Rangers, it was period engines all the way. And the aircraft were not kept as spiffy as now. There were even a few originals (besides the Jenny) still flying then. The Dolphin and Pup were memorable and I was sorry they were wrecked later. The whole Percy Goodfellow-Black Baron thing was at its hokiest at that time, but hey, it was the 70s, the word "edgy" didn't exist and people would still listen to that stuff.
If Rhinebeck has gone downhill since then, I feel that the slide had already taken place by the mid 1990s, when I went again. Most of the stuff from the 70s had worn out and been retired to the hangar. The new aircraft like the D.VII were very pretty and no doubt more airworthy than their predecessors, but didn't look as convincing. Also, during this period there seemed to be not many resources around, and a lot of stuff just wasn't working. Not a single Allied aeroplane could be made airworthy for the Sunday show, so Sir Percy had to fight the Black Baron in a Stampe! For me that was pretty much the nadir. On the other hand, they did hop the Caudron G.III down the strip and that alone was worth the visit.
On my recent visit things were looking up considerably. There were quite a few new airplanes, some new infrastructure, and more flying. I consider Rhinebeck to be better than it has been in years, not the same kind of scene Cole had but excellent and unique in its own way. I think judging by your webshots, you were there on an off day -- these things do happen. I chanced to be there on an "on" day -- the day of the WWI RC model meet, which is usually the best weekend at Rhinebeck because they really make an effort to get everything up. That day they flew the Nieuport XI, Spad, Camel, 504K, Jenny, Albatros, D.VII, Stamp, New Standard, Tiger Moth, Great Lakes, taxied the Bleriot, and probably some other stuff I'm forgetting. It was a decent lineup even by the standards of the old days, and the show was very well and professionally flown. So maybe it just depends on when you are there.
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