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.
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 gun, 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.
Specifications
Crew
1
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 V 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)
