Curtiss Fledgling
Curtiss · United States · first flew 1927 · light aircraft
The Curtiss Fledgling was a trainer aircraft developed for the United States Navy in the late 1920s, where it was known as the N2C. Curtiss knew it internally as the Model 48 and Model 51.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.33 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-bay staggered biplane wings of equal span braced with N-struts
- Pilot and instructor in tandem open cockpits
- Fixed tailskid undercarriage, swappable for a central pontoon and outrigger floats
It is a conventional biplane with the N2C-1 powered by a 220 hp Wright J-5 Whirlwind radial.
Specifications
- The Curtiss Fledgling has a length of 8.33 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.93 m (39 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 175 km/h (109 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed in response to a 1927 Navy requirement for a primary trainer and was selected after competition with fourteen other submissions. Curtiss developed the Model 51 as a civil equivalent.
Variants
The Navy versions were the XN2C-1, N2C-1 and N2C-2. The civil Fledgling used the Curtiss Challenger engine, and there was a single reduced-span Fledgling Junior.
Where you'll see it
Curtiss operated 109 Model 51s in its Curtiss Flying Service air taxi operation in the 1930s. Several air forces received aircraft, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Iran, Peru and Turkey.
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