Curtiss Twin JN

Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company · United States · first flew 1916 · transport aircraft

The Curtiss Twin JN was a twin-engine development of the famous JN-4 Jenny, created by widening the centre section to accommodate two tractor engines in nacelles between the wings. Eight aircraft were built and used for observation duties with the US Army.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	8.83 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Twin engines in nacelles between equal-span biplane wings
Enlarged Jenny centre section with tractor-mounted engine nacelles
Eight built — early US twin-engine training biplane

Distinctive for its enlarged, wider centre-section biplane wing housing two tractor-engine nacelles — unmistakably a Jenny fuselage stretched to accommodate twin engines.

Specifications

The Curtiss Twin JN has a length of 8.83 m (29 ft).
It has a wingspan of 16.08 m (53 ft).
Its maximum speed is 136 km/h (85 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed in 1916 from the ubiquitous JN-4 Jenny trainer, the Twin JN was evaluated by the US Army Signal Corps for observation work. One example was fitted with twin floats for seaplane trials. The type was used in small numbers during the Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa in Mexico.

Variants

Also designated JN-5 or Model 1B; one float-equipped seaplane conversion was evaluated.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the US Army Signal Corps in small numbers; used during the Punitive Expedition in Mexico and in stateside training.

Related aircraft

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