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Trouble at Old Rhinebeck

Posted by B Darnell on Wed Jan 07, 2004 11:55:47 AM

Got this of ANN today...
Looks like Old Rhinebeck and the USAFM have something in common besides old planes....
Scandal Hits Old Rhinebeck... Again

Amid numerous reports
of problems at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, a new story hitting the
wires further indicates that things are in some turmoil at the much
vaunted aero-historical landmark.

Christopher Rogine, 48, a volunteer at the Old Rhinebeck flight
facility for many years, is being criminally charged with
possession of stolen property after he attempted to sell an Apollo
Command Module recovery parachute on eBay last month.

The eBay description noted that, "The condition is in perfect
(sic). No rips, tears or discoloring. Have packaging paperwork. It
has been confirmed that this is the main parachute of that historic
mission 30 years ago."

Rogine claimed to have had legal possession of the chute for
over 20 years, having allegedly been given the property by the late
Cole Palen (who passed away a decade ago). He claimed he was
selling the artifact in order to earn money to pay for an
aircraft restoration.

Tipped to the attempted
sale by an employee from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum,
police were notified of the auction and subsequently affected an
arrest of the Red Hook, NY native.

The chute was an authentic (if bulky) aerospace artifact,
reportedly weighing over a hundred pounds. It was one of two
offered to the Rhinebeck Museum by the Smithsonian, and was
deployed (along with two other canopies) as part of the recovery
sequence in a 1973 Skylab mission. That mission was crewed by
Charles Conrad, Joseph Kerwin and Paul Weitz.

Rogine allegedly offered it on eBay for a starting bid of $9,500
and has been charged with felony possession of stolen property, as
a result.

Unfortunately; this is the latest in a series of problems
experienced by the Aerodrome, where some internal political issues
have been raising a ruckus with Museum staff, volunteers and
advocates for quite a while.
FMI: www.oldrhinebeck.org

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