Curtiss PN-1

PN-1
Role	night fighter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
First flight	1921[1]
Status	Abandoned project
Number built	1

The Curtiss PN-1 was an American single-seat night fighter biplane built by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company using blueprints from the Engineering Division of the United States Army Air Service.

Development

Designed by the USAAC, the PN-1 was a welded steel tube fuselage covered by fabric. The wings were wood covered by fabric. One of the two prototypes ordered was built, and underwent static testing at McCook Field.^[2] It may have undergone flight testing,^[1] but no orders were received.^[2]

Specifications

Data from ^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
• Wingspan: 30 ft 10 in (9.39 m)
• Height: 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
• Wing area: 300 ft² (27.87 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,631 lb (740 kg)
• Gross weight: 2,311 lb (1,048 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Liberty L-825, 230 hp (172 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 108 mph (174 km/h)
• Range: 255 miles (410 km)
• Service ceiling: 25,600 ft (7,803 m)
• Rate of climb: 1182 ft/min (6 m/s)

Armament

• 2 × .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns

References

Notes

1. Angelucci, 1987. p. 118. "certain aviation historians...state that the PN-1 never got as far as flight testing; others maintain that its maiden flight took place in August 1921"
2. Angelucci, 1987. p. 118.

Bibliography

• Angelucci, Enzo (1987). The American Fighter from 1917 to the present. New York: Orion Books.