The Oldest Flying Airplane in the US! 1909 Bleriot XI Hops at Old Rhinebeck

[@billroberts3864]

Beautiful piece of airplane history. Thanks for giving a short flying demo.

[@patrickwalker9706]

Glad you enjoyed it! Come see it in person if you’re ever in the area

[@Danpstew1]

I agree. beautiful piece of Aero History ! Thank you for sharing.

[@WalkAero]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@TimDocHarper]

Great to see her flying still! Back in the '70s, I was the chief flight instructor up at Columbia County airport. At a FAA 141 Chief Instructor clinic, I met and (for some lucky reason) was befriended by Dave Fox, then Cole's Chief Pilot. As a result I got to fly many of the aircraft at old Rhinebeck (not the Beleriot or the really old a/c) Ended up flying the Pitcairn in a few of the '30s shows. (Fun enough, at the time I was also flying mail in Beech 18s) To this day I consider that time to be the highlight of a long aviation career.

[@WalkAero]

That's wonderful Tim! If you still live in the area you should come visit again.

[@ThomasA.Ethington]

Back in 1980 some RIT photo students re-created the flight of Louis Bleriot over the English Channel event with the help of Cole Palen and Dave Fox. I was one of those students,it was quite a project and it worked out beautifully. Many thank to the memory of Cole and Dave for their help.👍

[@jerrybryant4489]

Pretty cool. But I think the second generation Wright flyer had longer flight times.

[@WalkAero]

But it was brand new at the time...at 100+ years the engine doesn't make a whole lot of power

[@JB-uj3qm]

This looks like the trainer version, short wingspan. I think they called them Penguins.

[@WalkAero]

This one actually has the full length wingspan. It's the lack of power from the 100+ year old engine that kept if from getting any higher on these flights.

[@mustangandfrankenstein]

Wow look at that..that is the koolest thing ever invented in its time and flight even only inches of the ground must have been explosive and exciting..i love it

[@WalkAero]

It truly is! To think it was capable of flying across the English Channel too!

[@KevinMitchell-i2v]

Just think, we went from this to the first F-15 in 63 years

[@WalkAero]

It is crazy when you think about it!

[@cratecruncher4974]

Looks like the old girl went to the chiropractor. The hump in her back is disappearing. Imagine crossing the English Channel in this contraption.

[@WalkAero]

Good eye! During the restoration all the bracing wires on the fuselage were re-tensioned to straighten it out.

[@cratecruncher4974]

@@WalkAero I'm scratch building a 1/48 model of this plane right now and my longerons aren't perfectly straight either.🤣

[@WalkAero]

@@cratecruncher4974 It's hard to keep such small longerons straight. I am sure none of the originals stayed straight long either

[@Driedecker_Aviation]

Pretty sure that isn’t the original bleriot

[@WalkAero]

It's not "the" original Bleriot if you are referring to serial #1 but this is an original Bleriot. Serial #56 specifically.

[@Driedecker_Aviation]

@@WalkAero oh, thanks for the info

[@Barb5001]

I have been thee a few times. Actually, only a part if the tail and some of the landing gear was all they had to work with. Everything else are reproductions on this aircraft.