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The Staff of SOH
Old Rhinbeck Aerodrome's Spirit of St Louis
- Thread starter Spad54
- Start date
Ian Warren
Charter Member
Without actually saying the word ... a dang 'Classic' ... that was a classic ... you would want to be well practiced/versed in driving that one in such a confined space .. now who did that scenery again for that airfield ? ... may have been one off the fellas in that video ?
Spad54
SOH-CM-2025
Falcone did the scenery in 2013. The team at ORA is using a Robin J-1 flown from the back seat as a trainer. It quite an achievement. ORA id a national treasure supported by individual donations and volunteer hours. A unique and magical place
Ian Warren
Charter Member
Thanks for lead Spadmiester
gray eagle
SOH-CM-2025
Roger
Senior Administrator
Surely you are pulling our legs here
.It was more likely a matter of getting a Center Of Gravity for all that weight.
Believe me: NO pilot wants to be sitting behind a fuel tank
.
Tuor2112
Members +
From Wikipedia (so it must be right lol!)
At Lindbergh's request, the large main and forward fuel tanks were placed in the forward section of the fuselage, in front of the pilot, with the oil tank acting as a firewall. This arrangement improved the center of gravity and reduced the risk of the pilot being crushed to death between the main tank and the engine in the event of a crash. This design decision meant that there could be no front windshield, and that forward visibility would be limited to the side windows. This didn't concern Lindbergh as he was used to flying in the rear cockpit of mail planes with mail bags in the front. When he wanted to see forward, he would slightly yaw the aircraft and look out the side.
So we are both right!
At Lindbergh's request, the large main and forward fuel tanks were placed in the forward section of the fuselage, in front of the pilot, with the oil tank acting as a firewall. This arrangement improved the center of gravity and reduced the risk of the pilot being crushed to death between the main tank and the engine in the event of a crash. This design decision meant that there could be no front windshield, and that forward visibility would be limited to the side windows. This didn't concern Lindbergh as he was used to flying in the rear cockpit of mail planes with mail bags in the front. When he wanted to see forward, he would slightly yaw the aircraft and look out the side.
So we are both right!
Bomber_12th
SOH-CM-2025
Some of the clips from the Youtube video of the ORA 'Spirit', especially towards the end, as it is taxiing toward the camera, just about look like they came straight out of the Jimmy Stewart film.
I first learned of Old Rhinebeck, and their 'Spirit' reproduction, in 2001, and I've been dreaming of seeing it completed ever since. Progress on the aircraft came to a halt/languished for quite some time, after Ken Cassens and some of the other good people left ORA in the early 2000's. Fortunately there were eventually some positive changes made and Ken Cassens returned a few years back and progress started again, otherwise the ORA 'Spirit' would not be where it is today.
It is a fantastic recreation of the original aircraft - not as accurate as John Norman's reproduction being built in Washington state, but by far the most accurate airworthy example completed to-date. An operating Wright J-5 Whirlwind (just like the original had) is an incredibly rare thing itself (John Norman's reproduction, which is being made an absolute clone of the original, also has a Wright J-5). The EAA's replica, for instance, is fitted with a Continental R-670, and that is what the sound recordings came from for the FS2004 'Spirit' - so that is why it sounds different than the Wright J-5 on the ORA 'Spirit'.
Ever since acquiring TrackIR, I have gotten a lot more enjoyment out of flying the 'Spirit' in the sim. I enjoy the challenge of the lack of visibility out of the cockpit, coupled with its very unique flying characteristics - due to the fact that it lacks "inherent stability" (actually exhibiting negative dynamic stability), just like the real thing (and reproductions). As one of the guys in the "One Six Right" documentary told - he had built a flying model of the 'Spirit' as a kid, and when he finally ended up actually meeting Lindbergh in person, he told Lindbergh about the model and how awful it flew - Lindbergh replied that it must have been an accurate model, as the real thing flew the same way. Or like how one of the EAA's 'Spirit' pilots described - it's like flying a bathtub on a pivot.
Here is where you can follow the progress on John Norman's 'Spirit' reproduction, which will also be flown when completed: http://www.jneaircraft.com/
On this one, no single detail is being left out/changed from the original (which John has had full access to at the Smithsonian, while it has been on the floor). The story about recreating the fuel tank "patch", just because there is a patch in the original, perfectly illustrates the "insane" level of attention to detail/accuracy to make it an absolute exact copy. It's not too far from completion either.
John Norman's definitive 'Spirit of St. Louis' reproduction:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/14821779684/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/14821055891/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/14821056961/in/photostream/
http://www.antiqueairfield.com/arti...pirit-of-st-louis-replica-in-washington-state
I first learned of Old Rhinebeck, and their 'Spirit' reproduction, in 2001, and I've been dreaming of seeing it completed ever since. Progress on the aircraft came to a halt/languished for quite some time, after Ken Cassens and some of the other good people left ORA in the early 2000's. Fortunately there were eventually some positive changes made and Ken Cassens returned a few years back and progress started again, otherwise the ORA 'Spirit' would not be where it is today.
It is a fantastic recreation of the original aircraft - not as accurate as John Norman's reproduction being built in Washington state, but by far the most accurate airworthy example completed to-date. An operating Wright J-5 Whirlwind (just like the original had) is an incredibly rare thing itself (John Norman's reproduction, which is being made an absolute clone of the original, also has a Wright J-5). The EAA's replica, for instance, is fitted with a Continental R-670, and that is what the sound recordings came from for the FS2004 'Spirit' - so that is why it sounds different than the Wright J-5 on the ORA 'Spirit'.
Ever since acquiring TrackIR, I have gotten a lot more enjoyment out of flying the 'Spirit' in the sim. I enjoy the challenge of the lack of visibility out of the cockpit, coupled with its very unique flying characteristics - due to the fact that it lacks "inherent stability" (actually exhibiting negative dynamic stability), just like the real thing (and reproductions). As one of the guys in the "One Six Right" documentary told - he had built a flying model of the 'Spirit' as a kid, and when he finally ended up actually meeting Lindbergh in person, he told Lindbergh about the model and how awful it flew - Lindbergh replied that it must have been an accurate model, as the real thing flew the same way. Or like how one of the EAA's 'Spirit' pilots described - it's like flying a bathtub on a pivot.
Here is where you can follow the progress on John Norman's 'Spirit' reproduction, which will also be flown when completed: http://www.jneaircraft.com/
On this one, no single detail is being left out/changed from the original (which John has had full access to at the Smithsonian, while it has been on the floor). The story about recreating the fuel tank "patch", just because there is a patch in the original, perfectly illustrates the "insane" level of attention to detail/accuracy to make it an absolute exact copy. It's not too far from completion either.
John Norman's definitive 'Spirit of St. Louis' reproduction:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/14821779684/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/14821055891/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/14821056961/in/photostream/
http://www.antiqueairfield.com/arti...pirit-of-st-louis-replica-in-washington-state
Bomber_12th
SOH-CM-2025
I've done a number of flights in the 'Spirit' out of Old Rhinebeck since back in FS2004 with Joe Binka's scenery, and of course several times now since the GAS/Falcon409 scenery was released, in FSX. The latest news/video about the ORA 'Spirit of St. Louis' was more than enough inspiration to make a few more recent flights.
Bomber_12th
SOH-CM-2025
Bomber_12th
SOH-CM-2025
Great topic! I flew into Rhinebeck a few times in an old Aeronca Champ years ago. Cole Palen was always around and a true gentleman. Always had a smile and answered our questions about the old birds.
The shows were great but sometimes the visiting arrivals and departures were just as entertaining. Even a twin or two. Apaches I seem to remember.
Just curious, anyone got a tally on how many "Spirit" reproductions were built over the years? For the Jimmy Stewart movie I think three were built ( I still have the old Air Progress magazine that told about them). Then the EAA bird. Then the one that folded a wing in Europe.
Now the Rhinebeck bird. Did someone mention another one?
Norm
The shows were great but sometimes the visiting arrivals and departures were just as entertaining. Even a twin or two. Apaches I seem to remember.
Just curious, anyone got a tally on how many "Spirit" reproductions were built over the years? For the Jimmy Stewart movie I think three were built ( I still have the old Air Progress magazine that told about them). Then the EAA bird. Then the one that folded a wing in Europe.
Now the Rhinebeck bird. Did someone mention another one?
Norm