Curtiss JN-4c “Canuck”

The Canuck is a Curtiss JN-4 built under license by Canadian Aeroplanes Limited, Toronto, Canada.  This aeroplane is serial number 496 and was made in 1917.  The official designation was JN-4CAN which in military slang soon became Canuck.  It is not quite a Jenny, which was the JN-4D.  The obvious difference is the rounded rudder and ailerons on all four wings.  The Canuck was not well liked probably due to the tendency of the longerons to break as a result of many frequent unusually hard landings by the cadet pilots.  Larger longerons, ailerons on the top wing only, larger rudder, and a few other minor internal changes make up the difference between the Canuck and the Jenny.  Although the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum has some military aircraft, it is primarily a civilian facility. Thus, Canuck 496 will resign from the Army, change clothes and become a

Barnstormer.

Removing wings

OX-5 is off

Center section is off

Removing the tail

Tail and stuff

Uncovered fuselage

Landing gear coming off

Waiting for fabric

First piece of fabric

Sewing fuselage fabric parts together

Fuselage is finished

Uncovering the wings

Covering the top wings

Painting the top wings

Center section installed

Fixed tail surfaces ready to paint

Tail control surfaces covered

Mounting the top wings

OX-5 in place

Installation complete

Cowl finished

Ready to paint bottom wings

Mounting bottom wings

Setting the rigging of the wings

Hoisted up to install landing gear

Out into the sunshine

Waiting for the paperwork to be done

Waiting for warmer weather to fly

Finally out where it belongs

The weather is warmer now

Ready to give it a go

Tail up on a ground run to be sure it will go straight

Goes straight into the wind

Time to go aloft

Up we go !

Graceful fly-by for pictures

Elegant pose

I don’t want to stop yet !!

That was FUN !!!!

Memories never fade