> Well, first of all the Rhinebeck planes aren't languishing into dereliction.
> There is a vibrant, growing Foundation that will continue to support
> activities there. You can send money directly to them if you'd like to
> put some support behind the effort.
>
Of course, I hope you're correct. However, the last time I was at
Rheinbeck that is *precisely* what I saw going-on! In all of the years
I've attended airshows at the Old Rheinbeck 'Drome I have *never* seen
fewer than half-dozen WWI craft perform. On the occasion of the season
opener last summer (which was also an inauguration for the Museum and a
tributary for Cole), they had only *four* machines available to perform,
then one of them only temporarily (the Fokk D.VII had to cut-short its
flight when it began to lose oil). The D.VIII was disassembled and
completely out-of-repair; the Alb.D.Va was totally unflyable; the Camel
failed during the show; their second Dr.I was sans engine (the third was
in one of the museum huts); and so on, and so on....
Now, this could be a coincidence, agreed, but I, personally, doubt it.
In fact, it makes me worry very much. I'll be attending again this year
(about mid-show-season for them), so I'll be happy to revise that opinion
if I see otherwise.
I only hope I do.
Erik
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"Prime Minister, I foresee all sorts of unforeseen difficulties!..."
--Sir Humphrey Appleby
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