Old Rhinebeck’s Spirit of St Louis Resumes Construction

After an extended period of inactivity, work on the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum’s reproduction of the Spirit of St. Louis has resumed.

The reproduction aircraft project was begun by the aerodrome’s founder Cole Palen who passed away in 1993 at which time progress on this faithful reproduction of the famous custom-constructed Ryan Airline Company’s Ryan NYP (for New York to Paris) halted. The newly-revived project is headed by Ken Cassens who is a noted expert on the plane that carried Charles Lindbergh from New York to Paris, non-stop in May of 1927.

The work on the plane is planned to be in two stages, with the plane being brought to static display standards first, then bringing the plane to flying condition at an as-yet undetermined future date.

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum President Michael DiGiacomio stated: “Thanks to Ken’s on-going commitment and the generous donations of dollars and materials from other businesses, the aerodrome and its visitors will be able to see Cole’s vision become a reality.”