Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome’s full-size Spirit of St. Louis replica arrived at Lakeland Linder International Airport just before sunset on November 13, 2026, completing an approximately 1,250-mile journey from New York ahead of celebrations marking the centennial of Charles Lindbergh’s historic transatlantic flight. Flown by renowned vintage and classic aircraft pilot Andrew King, the replica traveled south through a series of stops along the East Coast. It will spend the winter at the Florida Air Museum before participating in the 53rd annual SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo, scheduled for April 6–11, 2027.
The arrival brings to fruition the journey Vintage Aviation News previewed in October, extending the replica’s educational mission well beyond its home at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Red Hook, New York. The flight included stops at Summit Airport (KEVY) in Middletown, Delaware; the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia; Sumter, South Carolina; and Claxton, Georgia. The aircraft then continued to Grass Roots Airpark (06FD) in Florida, where the crew carried out a fuel system repair before the final leg to Lakeland. Supporting King were Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Director of Maintenance Mark Mondello and crew members Jacob Hammond, Dave King, Clay Hammond, and Emma Crawdord. A Daher Kodiak flown by Clay Hammond and a Husky, flown by Brad Gould, accompanied the operation as support aircraft.
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome pilot Emma Crawford produced a series of reels at the end of each day, capturing highlights of the journey. Beautifully crafted with a vintage filter, the videos evoked the barnstorming era and the pioneering spirit of aviation that defines Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.
Flying the replica south avoided the disassembly and handling required for transportation by truck. The journey also offered an opportunity to operate the aircraft across a substantial portion of the eastern United States, bringing a familiar sight from Old Rhinebeck’s airshows to a new audience. The replica’s construction began under Aerodrome founder Cole Palen, who died in 1993. Craftsman Ken Cassens subsequently brought the project to completion, drawing on extensive study of the original aircraft, including measurements, drawings, and photographs. Careful attention extended to details such as the flight instruments. Cassens first flew the replica in December 2015, and it has since appeared in airshows and film productions.
Operating the Spirit presents challenges closely associated with its famous predecessor, particularly the absence of a conventional forward windshield. As Hammond explained in VAN’s earlier coverage, pilots rely on peripheral views through the side windows during takeoff and use a sideslip on approach to obtain a view of the runway. Keeping the replica flying allows audiences to see those unusual characteristics in practice.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome and this extraordinary aircraft to Lakeland,” said Gene Conrad, SUN ’n FUN CEO. “The Spirit of St. Louis represents a defining moment in aviation history. Having the opportunity to welcome a flying replica here ahead of SUN ’n FUN 2027 gives our community, aviation enthusiasts and future generations a chance to connect with that legacy in a meaningful way.”
The aircraft is scheduled to remain inside the Florida Air Museum through the winter and into SUN ’n FUN 2027, allowing visitors to see it in the months preceding the annual gathering. During the expo, plans call for static display and flying appearances throughout the week. SUN ’n FUN’s 2027 theme, “A World to SEA at 53,” will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Lindbergh’s solo, nonstop flight from New York to Paris in May 1927. With the replica now in Lakeland, visitors will have an opportunity to examine a flying recreation of the aircraft that helped transform public understanding of aviation’s possibilities. To support the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, visit oldrhinebeck.org.
