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Where you can see it today: San Diego Aerospace Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
Current Status: static display
Cole's original Standard J-1 was traded to Hollywood stunt pilot and aerial photography
director Paul Mantz in 1957 for a Nieuport 28. (This is the same Nieuport that flew at the
Aerodrome from 1958-1972.) Apparently the Standard was in better condition than the
Nieuport because an extra $200 was given to Cole along with the plane.
Tom Polapink researched this aircraft for us and found its current location and some
background information in WWI Aero issue #80, July 1980. The Standard changed hands
many times, as listed in the article:
"San-Diego Aero-Space Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA:c/n 1598, N2826D; Wright
Hisso E-2 with E-3 heads #5083; bought surplus US Army Salvage in Americus, GA, by B A
Bowers, Knoxville, TN in 1920; then to Roosevelt Field, to Cole Palen, to Paul Mantz Air
Service, Burbank, CA for $1000 in 1955; then to Mantz Air, Inc, Santa Ana, CA for $1 in 1960;
then rebuilt by Timm & Gurney (cf#7, above [they rebuilt two other Standard J-1s for the
movie "Spirit of St. Louis" with Jimmy Stewart]); then sold at Parke-Bernet auction to Johan
M Larson for museum in Minneapolis, MN in 1967 for $1; then to San-Diego A-S Museum in
1978, for c $30000; appeared in It's a Mad Mad Mad World in 1962."
Current Status: static display
Cole's original Standard J-1 was traded to Hollywood stunt pilot and aerial photography
director Paul Mantz in 1957 for a Nieuport 28. (This is the same Nieuport that flew at the
Aerodrome from 1958-1972.) Apparently the Standard was in better condition than the
Nieuport because an extra $200 was given to Cole along with the plane.
Tom Polapink researched this aircraft for us and found its current location and some
background information in WWI Aero issue #80, July 1980. The Standard changed hands
many times, as listed in the article:
"San-Diego Aero-Space Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA:c/n 1598, N2826D; Wright
Hisso E-2 with E-3 heads #5083; bought surplus US Army Salvage in Americus, GA, by B A
Bowers, Knoxville, TN in 1920; then to Roosevelt Field, to Cole Palen, to Paul Mantz Air
Service, Burbank, CA for $1000 in 1955; then to Mantz Air, Inc, Santa Ana, CA for $1 in 1960;
then rebuilt by Timm & Gurney (cf#7, above [they rebuilt two other Standard J-1s for the
movie "Spirit of St. Louis" with Jimmy Stewart]); then sold at Parke-Bernet auction to Johan
M Larson for museum in Minneapolis, MN in 1967 for $1; then to San-Diego A-S Museum in
1978, for c $30000; appeared in It's a Mad Mad Mad World in 1962."
The aircraft that formed the cornerstone of the collection at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome were
acquired in 1951 when the museum at Roosevelt Field on Long Island closed down to make way
for a shopping center. As the aircraft went up for sale, Cole Palen offered his life savings, buying
six of the original World War I planes. He became the new owner of a SPAD XIII, Avro 504K,
Sopwith Snipe, Aeromarine 39B, Curtiss JN-4C Canuck, and a Standard J-1. The Smithsonian
also bought three aircraft from the collection, a Bleriot XI “Domenjoz”, Baldwin Red Devil, and a
Nieuport 10 (which is now on display at Old Rhinebeck). Cole's new aircraft needed much work,
but through tireless dedication and physical toil, he eventually got most of them into the air, and the
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome was born. Over time, most of Cole's original six aircraft were either
traded or sold. This section of Cole Palen.com will show you where they are today.
acquired in 1951 when the museum at Roosevelt Field on Long Island closed down to make way
for a shopping center. As the aircraft went up for sale, Cole Palen offered his life savings, buying
six of the original World War I planes. He became the new owner of a SPAD XIII, Avro 504K,
Sopwith Snipe, Aeromarine 39B, Curtiss JN-4C Canuck, and a Standard J-1. The Smithsonian
also bought three aircraft from the collection, a Bleriot XI “Domenjoz”, Baldwin Red Devil, and a
Nieuport 10 (which is now on display at Old Rhinebeck). Cole's new aircraft needed much work,
but through tireless dedication and physical toil, he eventually got most of them into the air, and the
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome was born. Over time, most of Cole's original six aircraft were either
traded or sold. This section of Cole Palen.com will show you where they are today.
Where you can see it today: U.S. Air Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio
Current Status: static display
The SPAD XIII was the first of the six aircraft to be restored to airworthy condition and was the
workhorse of the Aerodrome collection in the early days. Because of the SPAD's strong
construction and reliable Hispano-Suiza engine, Cole was able to fly the aircraft to several away
shows, which served as the greatest source of revenue for his growing fleet of vintage aircraft.
After years of service at the Aerodrome, Gordon Bainbridge restored the SPAD in 1988, and it was
placed on display in the Aerodrome's museum buildings until 1994, when the U.S. Air Force
Museum acquired the aircraft as a bequest of Cole's will. The SPAD was again restored, and
placed on display in the museum's World War I gallery, sporting the colors of Eddie
Rickenbacker's machine.
Current Status: static display
The SPAD XIII was the first of the six aircraft to be restored to airworthy condition and was the
workhorse of the Aerodrome collection in the early days. Because of the SPAD's strong
construction and reliable Hispano-Suiza engine, Cole was able to fly the aircraft to several away
shows, which served as the greatest source of revenue for his growing fleet of vintage aircraft.
After years of service at the Aerodrome, Gordon Bainbridge restored the SPAD in 1988, and it was
placed on display in the Aerodrome's museum buildings until 1994, when the U.S. Air Force
Museum acquired the aircraft as a bequest of Cole's will. The SPAD was again restored, and
placed on display in the museum's World War I gallery, sporting the colors of Eddie
Rickenbacker's machine.
Where you can see it today: Canada Aviation Museum, Ottawa, Canada
Current Status: static display
The original Avro 504K had a short, but colorful, stay at the Aerodrome. It had made several flights
at the field, but because of its large size, it was unsuitable for transport to different venues. Also,
the engine was not reliable enough to fly long distances. Therefore, it wasn't able to earn its keep
as well as some of the other aircraft in those shaky early days of the Aerodrome, and eventually,
the need for money forced Cole to sell it. The aircraft went to the Canadian government and was
put on display in the Canada Aviation Museum, where it remains to this day. The absence of an
Avro at the Aerodrome lasted until 1971, when Cole acquired an accurate replica built by Vivian
Bellamy for “The Bells of Hell go Ting-a-ling-a-ling; Death Where Art Thy Sting-a-ling-a-ling” a
movie that was never made. Later, Cole jokingly remarked that the marquees must have been too
small.
Current Status: static display
The original Avro 504K had a short, but colorful, stay at the Aerodrome. It had made several flights
at the field, but because of its large size, it was unsuitable for transport to different venues. Also,
the engine was not reliable enough to fly long distances. Therefore, it wasn't able to earn its keep
as well as some of the other aircraft in those shaky early days of the Aerodrome, and eventually,
the need for money forced Cole to sell it. The aircraft went to the Canadian government and was
put on display in the Canada Aviation Museum, where it remains to this day. The absence of an
Avro at the Aerodrome lasted until 1971, when Cole acquired an accurate replica built by Vivian
Bellamy for “The Bells of Hell go Ting-a-ling-a-ling; Death Where Art Thy Sting-a-ling-a-ling” a
movie that was never made. Later, Cole jokingly remarked that the marquees must have been too
small.
Where you can see it today: National Air & Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
Current Status: static display
When Cole found out that the World War I aircraft he had spent so much time admiring at
Roosevelt Field were going up for sale, he scrounged every penny he could get his hands on
and placed two separate bids. One was for the six aircraft together, and in case his offer wasn't
accepted, he made a second bid on the Sopwith Snipe alone because he wanted it more than
all the others. This aircraft was one of the star performers in the first air shows, but its service
at the Aerodrome was cut short in the late 1960's after an in-flight engine failure. Thankfully, the
pilot walked away unharmed, but the plane was badly damaged. After only a year, the Snipe
was back at the Aerodrome after a beautiful restoration by Gordon Bainbridge, who was able to
procure plans for the aircraft from Hawker Siddley in England. Sadly, it was not to be flown
again and remained in the museum buildings on static display until it was loaned out to the
National Air & Space Museum. Upon Cole's death in 1993, he gave the U.S. Air Force Museum
and the National Air & Space Museum their choice of any aircraft from the Aerodrome collection
as a bequest of his will. The Air Force Museum chose his original SPAD XIII, and NASM chose
to keep the Snipe.
Current Status: static display
When Cole found out that the World War I aircraft he had spent so much time admiring at
Roosevelt Field were going up for sale, he scrounged every penny he could get his hands on
and placed two separate bids. One was for the six aircraft together, and in case his offer wasn't
accepted, he made a second bid on the Sopwith Snipe alone because he wanted it more than
all the others. This aircraft was one of the star performers in the first air shows, but its service
at the Aerodrome was cut short in the late 1960's after an in-flight engine failure. Thankfully, the
pilot walked away unharmed, but the plane was badly damaged. After only a year, the Snipe
was back at the Aerodrome after a beautiful restoration by Gordon Bainbridge, who was able to
procure plans for the aircraft from Hawker Siddley in England. Sadly, it was not to be flown
again and remained in the museum buildings on static display until it was loaned out to the
National Air & Space Museum. Upon Cole's death in 1993, he gave the U.S. Air Force Museum
and the National Air & Space Museum their choice of any aircraft from the Aerodrome collection
as a bequest of his will. The Air Force Museum chose his original SPAD XIII, and NASM chose
to keep the Snipe.
Where you can see it today: privately owned by Ed “Skeeter”Carlson, Spokane, Washington.
Current Status: still flying
After Cole won his six relics, he was given thirty days to remove them from the airfield. The
first aircraft that he chose to take was the Curtiss JN-4C Canuck, because he thought it
would be easy, and as Cole put it, “The tires were up” Acting alone, he attached the fuselage
to the back of his Hillman Minx, and began to tow it home. En route, the car began to jostle,
and after stopping to see what the problem was, he noticed that wooden inserts had been
placed inside the tires, and they were breaking up along the road. He ended up having to get
inner tubes from a nearby junkyard, which he used to tie the tires to the rims of the wheel. As
the journey continued, Cole had to stop every few miles to attach more of these inner tubes,
which eventually collapsed the wheels right in the middle of active trolley tracks. At this point
he had to use a wooden board that was nearby to move the axle of the landing gear off the
tracks, all while a trolley was coming toward him. After this adventure he decided to use a
trailer, and after removing the landing gear and loading it, he eventually got it home. The
history of Cole's original Canuck is quite murky. Most of the evidence suggests that the
aircraft never flew at the Aerodrome and that it was sold fairly quickly. This theory is
reinforced by the aircraft's current owner, Ed Carlson of Spokane, Washington, who said that
when he acquired the aircraft, it was in poor condition and had not undergone any recent
restoration. Thankfully, Mr. Carlson did restore this aircraft. The Canuck is currently in
airworthy condition and is the only one of Cole's original six that is still flying.
Current Status: still flying
After Cole won his six relics, he was given thirty days to remove them from the airfield. The
first aircraft that he chose to take was the Curtiss JN-4C Canuck, because he thought it
would be easy, and as Cole put it, “The tires were up” Acting alone, he attached the fuselage
to the back of his Hillman Minx, and began to tow it home. En route, the car began to jostle,
and after stopping to see what the problem was, he noticed that wooden inserts had been
placed inside the tires, and they were breaking up along the road. He ended up having to get
inner tubes from a nearby junkyard, which he used to tie the tires to the rims of the wheel. As
the journey continued, Cole had to stop every few miles to attach more of these inner tubes,
which eventually collapsed the wheels right in the middle of active trolley tracks. At this point
he had to use a wooden board that was nearby to move the axle of the landing gear off the
tracks, all while a trolley was coming toward him. After this adventure he decided to use a
trailer, and after removing the landing gear and loading it, he eventually got it home. The
history of Cole's original Canuck is quite murky. Most of the evidence suggests that the
aircraft never flew at the Aerodrome and that it was sold fairly quickly. This theory is
reinforced by the aircraft's current owner, Ed Carlson of Spokane, Washington, who said that
when he acquired the aircraft, it was in poor condition and had not undergone any recent
restoration. Thankfully, Mr. Carlson did restore this aircraft. The Canuck is currently in
airworthy condition and is the only one of Cole's original six that is still flying.
Where you can see it today: aircraft destroyed, remnants remain in the Aerodrome collection
Current Status: awaiting restoration
Of all the aircraft that have been part of the Aerodrome collection over the decades, the story of the
1918 Aeromarine 39B is probably the most tragic. The Aeromarine gained recognition in 1922 by
becoming the first aircraft to land on the U.S.S. Langley, which was the U.S. Navy's first aircraft
carrier. By the time Cole acquired his example thirty years later, he had what was probably the last
of its kind in the world. In the late 1960's Cole's Aeromarine was photographed for a cigarette ad,
and as winter set in, the aircraft had to be transported south so the work could be completed.
Tragically, on the way to the new location, a cigarette thrown from a passing car ignited the aircraft,
and it was destroyed. The remains of the Aeromarine were placed in Cole's house, and for a time,
restoring the plane was one of his top priorities. Some restoration work was completed, but sadly
in 1983, Cole's house also caught fire and burned to the ground, taking most of what remained of
the Aeromarine. Hopefully the aircraft will one day be rebuilt using the remaining parts.
Current Status: awaiting restoration
Of all the aircraft that have been part of the Aerodrome collection over the decades, the story of the
1918 Aeromarine 39B is probably the most tragic. The Aeromarine gained recognition in 1922 by
becoming the first aircraft to land on the U.S.S. Langley, which was the U.S. Navy's first aircraft
carrier. By the time Cole acquired his example thirty years later, he had what was probably the last
of its kind in the world. In the late 1960's Cole's Aeromarine was photographed for a cigarette ad,
and as winter set in, the aircraft had to be transported south so the work could be completed.
Tragically, on the way to the new location, a cigarette thrown from a passing car ignited the aircraft,
and it was destroyed. The remains of the Aeromarine were placed in Cole's house, and for a time,
restoring the plane was one of his top priorities. Some restoration work was completed, but sadly
in 1983, Cole's house also caught fire and burned to the ground, taking most of what remained of
the Aeromarine. Hopefully the aircraft will one day be rebuilt using the remaining parts.
