Olde Rhinebeck Aerodrome

For great family fun, there are few places in the Hudson Valley to compare with Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome on a summer weekend afternoon. Grab a snow cone or box of pop corn, elbow you way into the bleachers and sit back and enjoy an antique airplane air show and "Perils of Pauline" ground show. Poor Pauline and Dudley do battle with the Evil Baron as planes zoom and parade overhead.

Besides the abduction of Pauline and her rescue and ultimate demise of the Evil Baron, what you'll be watching is a succession of historic antique airplanes from the early era of aviation. They noisily taxi and take off, swoop overhead in mock dog fights and amaze with feats of gut-wrenching twists and flips. Engines sputter and cut off, then restart and save the pilots from certain crashes. World War One era biplanes play tag with floating targets and groups of single wing planes race around overhead.

All the time the friendly announcer is telling you about the history and the many stories of these original antique planes, how they were used, when they were made and when they were rescued from oblivion. Meanwhile, the kids are squealing and pointing and jumping in excitement at all the noise, clanging of bells, activity and spectacle overhead.

These exciting weekend airshows are held from mid-June through mid-October at 2:30pm. At other times, and even during the shows, the rest of the Aerodrome is open to wander. In several hangers there is a collection of early aircraft and antique automobiles. The museum is open from mid-May through October daily from 10am till 5pm.