On behalf of the University of California, Irvine’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation, we are pleased to invite you to a special student-led seminar showcasing our 1917 Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny” Biplane Project.
This remarkable initiative brings together undergraduate and graduate students in a collaborative effort to plan, organize, and construct a historically accurate replica of the iconic World War I–era aircraft. Through this project, students are gaining hands-on experience in engineering design, materials analysis, fabrication techniques, and project management — all while honoring a milestone in aviation history. In partnership with the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation, UCI Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering students are building a full-scale replica of the vintage 1917 JN-4D Jenny inside a historic C-130 hangar at the Great Park in Irvine. The hangar is being utilized to restore over 50 aircraft that will be on display in the new Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, being constructed 200 feet north of the hangar.
The seminar will highlight the educational impact of experiential learning and demonstrate how engaging students in complex, real-world projects cultivates critical engineering principles such as systems thinking, structural integrity analysis, and teamwork under authentic constraints.
We would be honored by your presence as leaders in the aerospace industry. Your insights and engagement would provide invaluable perspective to our students and underscore the connection between academic preparation and industry innovation
Event Details
Title: Building the 1917 Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny” – An Experiential Learning Seminar
Location: UCI Beall Applied Innovation
Date/Time: February 25, 2026, 4:00 PM – 6:00PM
Presentations are followed by a reception.
Please RSVP by responding to jencheff@flyingleathernecks.org.
We hope you can join us to celebrate the ingenuity and passion of our future engineers as they bring history to life through modern engineering excellence.
With sincere appreciation,
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Julian J. Rimoli
Dean’s Professor and Chair
Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering
University of California, Irvine
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Michael Aguilar
Brigadier General USMC (Retired)
Pres/ CEO
Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
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Link to Flying Leathernecks Aviation Museum:
https://www.flyingleathernecks.org/
Link to University of California, Irvine, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department:
https://engineering.uci.edu/dept/mae
Link to meeting location at UCI Beall Applied Innovation:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Nim4vtcNje6jMUWMA