Curtiss JN-6H

Curtiss JN-6H (Model 1F)
Role	Biplane trainer aircraft
Manufacturer	Curtiss
Primary users	United States Army Air Service; United States Navy
Produced	1918
Number built	1,035
Developed from	Curtiss JN

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.

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

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)

References

Notes

^ Fitzsimons 1978, p. 1502.
^ Donald 1997, p. 1502.
^ Hispano-Suiza 8A.

Bibliography

Andrade, John. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Hersham, Surrey, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
Donald, David, ed. Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada: Prospero Books, 1997. ISBN 1-894102-24-X.
Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. "JN-4 and JN-6, Curtiss". Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare, Volume 14. London: Phoebus Publishing, 1978.

[Fitzsimons_p._1502-1] Fitzsimons 1978, p. 1502.

[2] Donald 1997, p. 1502.

[3] Hispano-Suiza 8A.

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