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Curtiss Jenny Restoration Nears Completion, Events Planned

The restoration of Friends of Jenny’s Curtiss JN-4 reproduction 38262 is nearing completion and the machine is reportedly being readied for its “coming out” party in College Park, Maryland on August 9.

This particular Jenny was built by a team of workers over a 16-month period beginning in June 2012. Constructed from original drawings, it employs a GMC V8 engine rather than an OX5 or Hisso and had appeared at numerous events until performing an emergency landing in August 2017.

The aircraft is currently scheduled to participate in the Centennial Air Mail festivities at College Park Aviation Museum on August 10-11. Friends of Jenny’s event page notes that the machine will “reenact the original air mail route as it was first developed by the U.S. Postal Service between Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City,” with plans to depart College Park for Republic Field, NYC on August 12. Festivities will reportedly take place along the way including “N. Philadelphia and over flight of former Bustleton Field” followed by “New York aviation activities including Cradle of Aviation Museum” on August 13 and 14.

Click below to check out recent photos of the restoration progress.

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Friends of Jenny Reveal Newly Restored de Havilland DH.4, Oshkosh Appearance Planned

The U.S.-based “Friends of Jenny” nonprofit organization has unveiled its newly restored de Havilland DH.4.

As previously reported, the machine, which is believed to be the last DH.4 airframe in North America, has been restored to airworthy condition in order to “honor the memory of the Americans who built her, who flew in her, and who died in her.”

The project saw the aircraft restored by “cadres of professionals and aficionados” and was endorsed by the WW1 Centennial Commission. The final product boasts a V-12 Liberty engine and markings representing DH.4 #6 of 50 Squadron, the machine flown by Lt. Harold E. Goettler and Lt. Erwin R. Bleckley when they gave their lives during a heroic mission on September 12, 1918, posthumously earning them both the Medal of Honor. Continue reading Friends of Jenny Reveal Newly Restored de Havilland DH.4, Oshkosh Appearance Planned