Curtiss Model J
Curtiss Aeroplane Company · United States · first flew 1914 · light aircraft
The Curtiss Model J was a prototype tractor-configuration biplane that, with the Model N, became the basis of the Curtiss Jenny series.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.03 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tractor biplane with the engine and propeller in the nose
- Upper wing considerably greater in span than the lower, with ailerons on the upper wing only
- Tandem seating and conventional landing gear with a tailskid
The biplane wings have no dihedral, and the upper wing is much longer than the lower. It is covered in clear doped linen or cotton.
Specifications
- The Curtiss Model J has a length of 8.03 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.24 m (40 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 138 km/h (86 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed by Benjamin D. Thomas, whom Glenn Curtiss hired from the Sopwith Aviation Company. The first prototype was rolled out on 12 March 1914, and the first flight tests were made without fuselage covering. It followed a series of accidents with pusher aircraft that led the US Army to show interest in tractor designs.
Variants
A Model J was demonstrated with floats in 1915. The J-2 was a smaller design that was cancelled, and the Model N first prototype was built from a modified Model J.
Where you'll see it
The first prototype was delivered to the US Signal Corps on 28 July 1914. In September 1914 it recorded 85.7 mph, the fastest in America at the time. Both Model J aircraft crashed in testing in 1915.
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