JN-4

The Curtiss JN‑4, popularly known as the “Jenny,” was a biplane trainer built by the Glenn Curtiss Aeroplane Company from 1915 through the post‑war years. Developed from the earlier J and N models, the JN‑4 combined a sturdy wooden frame, fabric‑covered wings, and a simple, reliable 90‑horsepower Curtiss OX‑5 V‑8 engine. Its two‑seat, open‑cockpit layout gave instructors direct visibility of the student and enabled basic flight maneuvers, aerobatics, and rudimentary combat drills. Over 4,000 Jennies were produced for the United States Army Signal Corps and later the United States Army Air Service, making it the most numerous aircraft in the nation’s first generation of military pilots. After World War I, surplus Jennies flooded the civilian market, becoming the workhorse of early airmail routes, barn‑storming shows, and flight schools, and they introduced countless Americans to aviation. The aircraft’s straightforward construction, forgiving handling, and low operating costs helped establish the United States as a leading aviation power. The JN‑4’s legacy lives on in the iconic image of a young pilot in a leather helmet and goggles, a symbol of the pioneering spirit that shaped modern flight.

Glenn Curtiss

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