Curtiss JN 6H

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.

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).

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) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 80 mph (128 km/h)

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)