Time Period: World War I
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Biplane, Trainer Aircraft
Manufacturer: Curtiss
Curtiss JN Jenny Aircraft Overview
The Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny” was an American biplane trainer aircraft designed and built by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company during World War I. It was one of the most widely used training aircraft of its time and played an important role in the development of military aviation.
The Jenny had a wooden frame covered in fabric and was powered by a 90 horsepower Curtiss OX-5 V8 engine. It had a wingspan of 13.4 meters and a length of 8.4 meters. The aircraft was used for basic flight training and could also be equipped with machine guns for advanced training in air-to-air combat.
The Jenny was widely used by the United States Army Air Service during World War I, and it was also used by several other air forces around the world. After the war, surplus Jenny aircraft were sold to civilian pilots and flying schools, making it one of the most popular aircraft of the interwar period.
The Jenny was also used for several record-breaking flights, including the first cross-country flight across the United States, which took place in 1919. In total, more than 6,000 Jenny aircraft were produced between 1915 and 1927.
The Curtiss JN-4 Jenny’s success helped establish the Curtiss Aeroplane Company as one of the leading aircraft manufacturers in the world, and it contributed to the rapid development of aviation technology during this period. The Jenny was also influential in the development of aircraft design, and it served as a template for many future trainer and general aviation aircraft designs.
Curtiss JN Jenny (JN-4D) Specifications
- Crew: 2
- Length: 27 ft 4 in (8.33 m)
- Wingspan: 43 ft 7.375 in (13.29373 m)
- Height: 9 ft 10.625 in (3.01308 m)
- Wing area: 352 sq ft (32.7 m2)
- Airfoil: Eiffel 36
- Empty weight: 1,390 lb (630 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,920 lb (871 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss OX-5 V-8 air-cooled piston engine, 90 hp (67 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller.
Curtiss JN Jenny (JN-4D) Performance
- Maximum speed: 75 mph (121 km/h, 65 kn)
- Cruise speed: 60 mph (97 km/h, 52 kn)
- Service ceiling: 6,500 ft (2,000 m)
- Time to altitude: 2,000 ft (610 m) in 7 minutes 30 seconds.
Curtiss JN Jenny Image Gallery
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