Naval Aircraft Factory PN-10

Naval Aircraft Factory · United States · first flew 1927 · transport aircraft

The Naval Aircraft Factory PN-10 is a refined twin-engine biplane patrol flying boat representing a late development in the NAF's PN series, flown in 1927. It offered improved performance over earlier PN variants through better engines and aerodynamic refinement.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — WingsHigh-mounted, straight
E — Engines2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage15.1 m fuselage
T — TailTwin fin

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Very similar in outline to other PN-series biplane patrol boats; the twin-engine, twin-tail biplane flying boat profile is consistent across the series with incremental differences in engine cowlings and strut arrangements.

Specifications

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

History

As the PN series matured through the late 1920s, successive marks incorporated more powerful engines and detail improvements. The PN-10 was one of the final biplane variants before the transition to monoplane patrol boats began with the P3M series.

Variants

The PN-10 sits near the end of the biplane PN sequence; the PN-12 with more powerful engines was also produced, while the Martin P3M represented the follow-on monoplane type.

Where you'll see it

Served with US Navy patrol squadrons in the late 1920s before being supplanted by more capable monoplane patrol boats in the early 1930s.

Related aircraft

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