POPLAR GROVE, Ill. (WTVO) — Volunteers at the Poplar Grove Airport at Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum is hoping to keep a historic aircraft in use.

“I was probably only 25 or 30 people in the country who can say they’ve flown a Jenny, and I was lucky enough to be one of them. So, I feel honored to be able to say that,” shared Wally Falardeau.

Dozens of volunteers rebuilt the 1918 JN4-D Curtiss Jenny Replica entirely from scratch after designer and builder Glenn Curtiss built it for World War One training purposes.

“We were able to acquire about 1,200 original drawings from 1915. It’s so rewarding to see the aircraft fly after all the time we put into it,” explained pilot and volunteer Steve McGreevy.

Two years ago, the engine died due to the magneto, which is a generator that powers th

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