Curtiss JN-6H

The Curtiss JN-6H (Model 1F) was an American biplane trainer aircraft built by Curtiss for the United States Army Air Service during World War I.

Curtiss JN-6H (Model 1F)
General information
Type	Biplane trainer aircraft
Manufacturer	Curtiss
Primary users	United States Army Air Service United States Navy
Number built	1,035
History
Manufactured	1918
Developed from	Curtiss JN

Design and development

Developed from the one-off JN-5H advanced trainer, the 6H had a superior aileron operation mechanism. It was used in a variety of roles, with stick and rudder in either one seat or both: JN-6HB single-control bomber trainer (154 built), JN-6HG-1 dual-control gunnery trainer (560 built), JN-6HG-2 single-control gunnery trainer (90 built), JN-6HO single-control observation trainer (106 built), and JN-6HP single-control pursuit trainer (125 built), a total of 1,035; five went to the Navy.^[1][2]

The airframe did not differ substantially from the JN-4H (Model 1E), and used the same 150 hp (112 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8A ("Hisso") V8, which weighed 408 lb (185 kg).^[3]

Some of the aircraft were modernized as the Curtiss JNH and later to the Curtiss JNS (JN Standard) with either a 180 hp (134 kW) Wright-Hispano E (as JNS-E) or 150 hp (112 kW) Wright-Hispano I engine (as JNS-I).

Variants

JN-6H

Bomber training variant

JN-6HB

Single-control bomber trainer, 154 built

JN-6HG-1

dual-control gunnery trainer, one dorsal guns, 560 built.

JN-6HG-2

single-control gunnery trainer, two dorsal guns, 90 built

JN-6HO

single-control observation trainer, 106 built

JN-6HP

Pursuit training version, 125 built.

Operators

 United States

• United States Army Air Service
• United States Navy

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 (pilot)
• Length: 26 ft 11 in (8.2 m)
• Wingspan: 43 ft 7 in (13.28 m)
• Height: 9 ft 10.5 in (3.01 m)
• Gross weight: 2,750 lb (1,247 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8A water-cooled 8-cylinder vee aircraft piston engine , 150 hp (110 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 80 mph (128 km/h, 70 kn)

Armament

• 1 × fixed, forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun in cowl (JN-6HG-1) or
• 2 × fixed, forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns in cowl (JN-6HG-2)

See also

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States