Old Rhinebeck's Spirit of St. Louis run-up and taxi

[APG85]

They've done a beautiful job on this replica. Can't wait to see it fly.

https://youtu.be/ZfSVsP8_x2g

[APG85]

This is a spectacular replica. One of the few NYP replica's that has got the correct looking cowlings, engine, interior, wing size...everything looks right. Reportedly, Cole Palen always wanted a flying NYP at the museum and after a lot of work, it's close to happening. There's some nice video on Facebook (The Old Rhinebeck Page) of engine runs at done at night.

http://oldrhinebeck.org/ORA/ryan-nyp-sp ... -st-louis/

http://oldrhinebeck.org/ORA/old-rhinebe ... axi-tests/

[APG85]

Another evening engine run/test. I believe they took off the carburetor and did some work on it...

https://youtu.be/tDXK3YLxGDk

[APG85]

Flying Magazine Article:

http://www.flyingmag.com/news/old-rhine ... SOC&dom=fb

[APG85]

She flew...!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/oldrhinebeckaerodrome/

[JohnTerrell]

Here is ORA's press release from the first flight of their "Spirit of St. Louis": http://oldrhinebeck.org/ORA/rhinebeck-a ... #more-3371

On ORA's Facebook page, Clay Hammond, one of the individuals directly involved with the project, had this to say about the day's events:

"Spirit of Saint Louis first flight. - I thought a recap of the day might be in order. Morning broke clear and calm, no wind, blue sky. Ken had finished last items on checklist to completion. No reason not to. Frost this morning, but forecasted temps in the 50's by lunch hour. We pulled the Robin out about 11 and shot an hour's worth of landings with Ken in the back seat again and the cardboard blocking the forward view. After getting to the point where he felt a groove setting in we called it good and Ken decided to give it a go. Ken, Mike DiGiacomio, and I had a short discussion briefing the intended flight and Ken's intention to climb up overhead, circle for a short period, feel out the aircraft, and then return for the first landing. Crew pulled the NYP out and Ken climbed in. We commenced with starting procedure. Took three proppers and ten minutes to get it going, still figuring that out a little. Warmed it up for 15 minutes or so. Good sound, good temps using an infared thermometer, ready to go. Tim Haggerty and I climbed in the Robin to fly a high cover and to get some stand off photography. Launched in the Robin and started climbing for altitude. Five minutes later observed Ryan pull onto runway lane and start its roll. Ken climbed up to altitude promptly, around 3000 feet, we circled above him the whole time, making it a point to deconflict and also observe for other traffic. Tim was shooting with a nice long lens the entire time. Observed Ken do a couple stalls, steep turns, dutch rolls...feeling it out. He circled for a while longer and then started heading down. We in Robin descended in trail, staying off the right rear quarter. Ken made one low pass to shoot the approach at speed one time, and for the benefit of those on the ground, then came around for the landing. Stayed on his wing all the way around. NYP lined up on the runway, descended nicely down into the notch, rounded out just beyond the road and proceeded to float, and float, and floated some more. Touched down about even with the sausage factory. Rolled out and down the north end a ways. Mike D was down there to wing run and assist if needed. Circled around into pattern and landed the Robin. Shut down and walked over to Ken, who was cooling down the Whirlwind on the NYP. He said the stalls are extremely docile, no tendency to drop a wing, everything straight ahead and sets up into a steady and stable mush rather than any hard break. Better visibility than Robin, which is good! Means the Robin served as a good trainer, making the job harder than it was. Ken stated that on takeoff he noticed a great deal of nose heaviness, to the point that he subsequently inputted full aft trim and kept it there for entire flight, yet was still holding back pressure on the stick at all power settings. In calculating the weight and balance for the NYP on paper, everything had pointed towards a tail heavy situation, leading us to install a significant amount of lead ballast in the nose section just ahead of the firewall. After the flight Ken has decided to remove half of this weight to bring the aircraft into better trim. No adjustments necessary for roll or yaw tendencies. Additional test flights ahead to dial in the pitch. All in all Ken stated that it is a wonderful flying machine that he is very happy with!"

Here are a few of the photos that have been shared/posted by Tim Haggerty from yesterday:

[JohnTerrell]

And here are a couple photos from earlier this year of the authentic/accurate cockpit - St. Christopher and all. The aircraft is furnished with a complete set of all of the original/correct instrumentation - some of which was provided by the Smithsonian. Photos by Tim Haggerty.

[APG85]

Great pictures and what a fantastic job! If they ever make another movie or mini-series, this is the plane to use. Congratulations to the entire team...!

[JohnTerrell]

Another project very much worth keeping an eye on (that I've been following from the beginning) is the JNE/John Norman Spirit of St. Louis reproduction, which has been/is being built as an absolute clone of the original in every detail - even more so than the ORA example - with borderline "insane" attention to every detail (you just have to read the story about the fuel tank "patch" http://www.jneaircraft.com/). It is nearing completion, and the plan is to fly it on a nation-wide tour in 2017, marking the 90th anniversary of Lindbergh's historic flight and national tour. Lindbergh flew the Spirit to all 48 of the mainland States (of course the only ones at the time), following the Atlantic crossing, and the plan is to fly the JNE Spirit to all 48 mainland States as well - in somewhat of a reverse order of the original Lindbergh tour. A 1911 Model T Ford may even be joining the tour, to be displayed with the aircraft at each stop.

[APG85]

Another project very much worth keeping an eye on (that I've been following from the beginning) is the JNE/John Norman Spirit of St. Louis reproduction, which has been/is being built as an absolute clone of the original in every detail - even more so than the ORA example - with borderline "insane" attention to every detail (you just have to read the story about the fuel tank "patch" http://www.jneaircraft.com/). It is nearing completion, and the plan is to fly it on a nation-wide tour in 2017, marking the 90th anniversary of Lindbergh's historic flight and national tour. Lindbergh flew the Spirit to all 48 of the mainland States (of course the only ones at the time), following the Atlantic crossing, and the plan is to fly the JNE Spirit to all 48 mainland States as well - in somewhat of a reverse order of the original Lindbergh tour. A 1911 Model T Ford may even be joining the tour, to be displayed with the aircraft at each stop.

Yes, I've been following that project with intense interest as well. I wish there were more frequent updates. Last I read, he was having some issues getting parts for his J-5 Whirlwind.
It's nice to finally see some accurate and detailed SOSL reproductions being made. Not to take anything away from some of the older SOSL reproductions but they never seemed to get the details correct i.e. the cowlings, engine, wing length, etc.
The ORA SOSL is one of the first that looks correct in just about every respect...

[JohnTerrell]

They did appear to have some initial difficulty tracking down some parts for the J-5 on the JNE project, but the engine appears to be coming together well, based on these photos posted to Facebook back in August: https://www.facebook.com/jnespirit/





Here are some great photos of the JNE "Spirit" from last year (including showing the cowlings test-fitted). As seen in a more recent update, fabric is now going on the aircraft.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull ... otostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull ... otostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull ... otostream/

[APG85]

Excellent...! And the fabric covered wheels which are angled/canted add to the perfect look of this one...

[kalamazookid]

Wow! Spectacular replica. Enjoyed the write-up on the flying characteristics, too.

[APG85]

Another article:

http://hudsonvalleynewsnetwork.com/2015 ... rhinebeck/

[JohnTerrell]

A nice AP video report on the Old Rhinebeck "Spirit of St. Louis" here: http://www.wiscnews.com/video/ndn/video ... 04ed7.html

(Edit: Fixed the link!)

The aircraft has already completed several successful test flights since its first flight last Saturday.