JN-4 "Jenny"

The Jenny is probably the most famous US-built airplane to come out of World War I. This trainer and observation biplane picked up its nickname from its designation, JN. Roughly 95 percent of the US and Canadian pilots trained during World War I flew a Jenny at some point during their training. When the buildup of American airpower began after the US entered World War I, the JN-4 was the only proven domestic design ordered into immediate mass production. Wartime need required an expansion of production, and five other companies were chosen to build JN-4D. An earlier version, the JN-3, was used in 1916 during Maj. Gen. John J. Pershing's punitive expedition into Mexico, but the aircraft's performance was not satisfactory. After World War I, thousands of JN-4s were put on the civilian market, and the type was used by countless barnstormers all across the country. Some 200 airplanes were transferred to the US Navy from 1920 to 1923. The Army Air Service continued to use the better performing JN-4H and JN-6 models until September 1927.

Contractors: Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Co.

Fowler Airplane Corp.

Liberty Iron Works

Springfield Aircraft Co.

St. Louis Aircraft Co.

US Aircraft Co.

Howell & Lesser Co.

Locations Built: Buffalo, N. Y.

San Francisco, Calif.

Sacramento, Calif.

Springfield, Ill.

St. Louis, Mo.

Redwood City, Calif.

Number Built: (USAF) 6,070 (approx 5,500)

First Flight: 1915

First Flight Model: JN-2 (although it is sometimes referred to as just JN)

First Flight Location: Hammondsport, N. Y.

First Flight Pilot: Unconfirmed

Models/Variants: JN-4, JN-4A, B, C, D, H. JN- 4Can. JN-4HT, HB, HG. JN-5H. JN-6, JN-6HB, HG, HO, HP. JNS

Powerplant: One Curtiss OX-5, liquid-cooled V-8 of 90 hp

Wingspan: 43 ft 7 in.

Length: 27 ft 4 in.

Height: 9 ft 10 in.

Weight: 920 lb gross.

Armament: Usually none

Accommodation: Crew of two (student and pilot in separate tandem cockpits)

Cost: $4,750 (airframe only; engines added approx $1,000 to the cost)

Max. Speed: 75 mph

Range: Endurance: two hr, 15 min.

Ceiling: 6,500 ft.

Contractors:	Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Co.
	Fowler Airplane Corp.
	Liberty Iron Works
	Springfield Aircraft Co.
	St. Louis Aircraft Co.
	US Aircraft Co.
	Howell & Lesser Co.
Locations Built:	Buffalo, N. Y.
	San Francisco, Calif.
	Sacramento, Calif.
	Springfield, Ill.
	St. Louis, Mo.
	Redwood City, Calif.
Number Built: (USAF)	6,070 (approx 5,500)
First Flight:	1915
First Flight Model:	JN-2 (although it is sometimes referred to as just JN)
First Flight Location:	Hammondsport, N. Y.
First Flight Pilot:	Unconfirmed
Models/Variants:	JN-4, JN-4A, B, C, D, H. JN- 4Can. JN-4HT, HB, HG. JN-5H. JN-6, JN-6HB, HG, HO, HP. JNS
Powerplant:	One Curtiss OX-5, liquid-cooled V-8 of 90 hp
Wingspan:	43 ft 7 in.
Length:	27 ft 4 in.
Height:	9 ft 10 in.
Weight:	920 lb gross.
Armament:	Usually none
Accommodation:	Crew of two (student and pilot in separate tandem cockpits)
Cost:	$4,750 (airframe only; engines added approx $1,000 to the cost)
Max. Speed:	75 mph
Range:	Endurance: two hr, 15 min.
Ceiling:	6,500 ft.