Naval Aircraft Factory N3N explained

The Naval Aircraft Factory N3N was an American tandem-seat, open cockpit, primary training biplane aircraft built by the Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 1930s and early 1940s.

Development and design

Built to replace the Consolidated NY-2 and NY-3, the N3N was successfully tested as both a conventional airplane and a seaplane. The seaplane used a single large float under the fuselage and two smaller floats under the outer tips of the lower wings. The conventional airplane used a fixed landing gear. The prototype XN3N-1 was powered by a Wright J-5 radial engine. An order for 179 production aircraft was received. Near the end of the first production run the engine was replaced with the Wright R-760-2 Whirlwind radial. The aircraft is constructed using Alcoa's extruded aluminum, with bolts and rivets, rather than the more common welded steel tubing fuselages. Early production models used aluminum stringers formed for cancelled airship construction orders.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Operational history

The N.A.F. built 997 N3N aircraft beginning in 1935. They included 179 N3N-1s and 816 N3N-3s, plus their prototypes. Production ended in 1942, but the type remained in use through the rest of World War II. The N3N was the last biplane in US military service - the last (used by the U.S. Naval Academy for aviation familiarization) were retired in 1959. The N3N was also unique in that it was an aircraft designed and manufactured by an aviation firm wholly owned and operated by the U.S. government (the Navy, in this case) as opposed to private industry. For this purpose, the U.S. Navy bought the rights and the tooling for the Wright R-760 series engine and produced their own engines. These Navy-built engines were installed on Navy-built airframes.^[4]

According to Trimble, "The N3N-3, sometimes known as the Yellow Bird for its distinctive, high-visibility paint scheme, or less kindly, Yellow Peril for the jeopardy in which student aviators often found themselves, showed itself to be rugged, reliable, and generally forgiving to student pilots."^[4]

Four N3N-3s were delivered to the United States Coast Guard in 1941. Postwar, many surviving aircraft were sold on the US civil aircraft market and bought for operation by agricultural aerial spraying firms and private pilot owners. A number are still (as of 2014) active in the USA.

Variants

XN3N-1

First prototype aircraft, Bureau of Aeronautics number 9991.

N3N-1

Two-seat primary trainer biplane, powered by a Wright R-790 Whirlwind (J-5) radial piston engine. 179 were built.

XN3N-2

One prototype only (Bureau number 0265) powered by a Wright R-760-96 Whirlwind (J-6-7) radial piston engine.

XN3N-3

One production N3N-1 (0020) converted into a 'dash three' prototype.

N3N-3

Two-seat primary trainer biplane, powered by a Wright R-760-2 Whirlwind (J-6-7) radial piston engine. 816 built.

Operators

• United States Coast Guard
• U.S. Marines
• United States Navy
• Chilean Naval Airforce 4 N3N-1 received by Lend-Lease Program
• Cuban Naval Airforce 5 N3N-1s received by Lend-Lease Program.

Surviving aircraft

• 0719 – On display at the Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio in Santiago.^[5]
• 1918 – On display at the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa, Idaho.^{[6] [7]}
• 2582 – On display at the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon.^{[8] [9]}
• 2621 – On display at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.^{[10] [11]}
• 2693 – On display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida.^{[12] [13]}
• 2733 – Airworthy with the High Sierra Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force in Reno, Nevada.^{[14] [15]}
• 2782 – On display at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania.^{[16] [17]}
• 2827 – On display at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.^{[18] [19]}
• 2831 – On display at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.^{[20] [21]}
• 2892 – On display at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia.^{[22] [23]}
• 2951 – On display at the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan.^{[24] [25]}
• 2959 – On display at the USS Lexington Museum in Corpus Christi, Texas.^{[26] [27]}
• 3022 – On display at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.^{[28] [29]}
• 3033 – Airworthy with Ag Air Squadron Three, LLC in Grant Park, Illinois.
• 3046 – On display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida.^{[30] [31]}
• 4402 - Airworthy with Joe McBryan (Buffalo Airways) in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.^[32]
• 4406 – Airworthy with Bernie Air Services in Sandown, Isle of Wight.^[33]
• 4480 – On display at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.^{[34] [35]}
• 4497 – On display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.^{[36] [37]}

Specifications (N3N-3)

Communications were done by the instructor through a speaking tube to the student in the front cockpit. Communications back were agreed-upon gestures.^[38]

References

Bibliography

• Ford. Daniel. Sought After Classic: N3N-3 Canary — Often Misidentified, Always Loved! . Air Enthusiast . September–October 1999. 83. 68–71 . 0143-5450.
• Book: Holmes, Tony . Jane's Vintage Aircraft Recognition Guide . 2005 . Harper Collins . London . 0-00-719292-4 .
• Sapienza. Antonio Luis. L'aviation militare paraguayenne durant la seconde guerre mondiale . Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire . Paraguayan Military Aviation During the Second World War. May 2001 . 98 . 30–33 . fr . 1243-8650.

External links

• "NAVAL AIRCRAFT FACTORY N3N YELLOW PERIL", by Jack McKillop, provides a detailed description of the N3N and its development.

Notes and References

1. Air Progress. A Dream of Wings. Gene Smith. February 1989.
2. Web site: Military Aircraft, Trainers . Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum . 25 October 2020.
3. Web site: Bailey . Stewart . N3N-3 Yellow Peril Joins the Museum Collection . Evergreen Museum . 25 October 2020 . 2009.
4. Book: Trimble . William . Wings for the Navy: a history of the Naval Aircraft Factory, 1917-1956 . 1990 . United States Naval Institute . Annapolis . 9780870216633 . 127–139, 336–337.
5. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-1, s/n 500 FACh, c/n 0719, c/r CC-DME . Aerial Visuals . 28 September 2022.
6. Web site: "YELLOW PERIL". Warhawk Air Museum. 13 August 2016.
7. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, s/n 1918 USN, c/r N45305. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
8. Web site: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3. Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum. WAAAM. 13 August 2016.
9. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, c/n 2582, c/r N45042. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
10. Web site: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3. Yanks Air Museum. Yanks Air Museum. 13 August 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160629113254/https://yanksair.com/Products/115/106/Naval-Aircraft-Factory-N3N-3-18/. 29 June 2016.
11. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, c/r N44757. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
12. Web site: N3N "YELLOW PERIL" (FLOATPLANE). National Naval Aviation Museum. Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. 13 August 2016.
13. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, s/n 2693 USN. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
14. Web site: N3N High Sierra Squadron . Commemorative Air Force . 28 September 2022.
15. Web site: FAA Registry [N4009A] ]. Federal Aviation Administration . U.S. Department of Transportation . 28 September 2022.
16. Web site: Rambow. Bill. Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 "Yellow Peril". Mid-Atlantic Air Museum. Avialantic. 13 August 2016.
17. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, s/n 02782 USN, c/r N44718. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
18. Web site: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3. Yanks Air Museum. Yanks Air Museum. 13 August 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160629113415/https://yanksair.com/Products/123/106/Naval-Aircraft-Factory-N3N-3-26/. 29 June 2016.
19. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, s/n 02827 USN, c/r N45280. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
20. Web site: Military Aircraft. Evergreen Museum Campus. Evergreen Museum. 13 August 2016.
21. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, s/n 02831 USN, c/r N3NN. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
22. Web site: Navy Hangar. Military Aviation Museum. Military Aviation Museum. 13 August 2016.
23. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, s/n 02892 USN, c/r N120BH. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
24. Web site: Naval Aircraft Factory Yellow Peril. Air Zoo. Air Zoo. 13 August 2016.
25. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, s/n 2951 USN, c/r N9308Z. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
26. Web site: N3N YELLOW PERIL. USS Lexington. USS LEXINGTON Museum On The Bay. 13 August 2016.
27. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, s/n 02959 USN, c/r N6358T. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
28. Web site: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. 13 August 2016.
29. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, s/n 03022 USN. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
30. Web site: N3N "YELLOW PERIL" (CONVENTIONAL GEAR). National Naval Aviation Museum. Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. 13 August 2016.
31. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, s/n 3046 USN. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
32. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, c/r CF-HUS . Aerial Visuals . 20 December 2022.
33. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, c/r G-ONAF . Aerial Visuals . 28 September 2022.
34. Web site: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3. Yanks Air Museum. Yanks Air Museum. 13 August 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160629113459/https://yanksair.com/Products/125/106/Naval-Aircraft-Factory-N3N-3-28/. 29 June 2016.
35. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, s/n 04480 USN, c/r N695M. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
36. Web site: YELLOW PERIL. Pima Air & Space Museum. Pimaair.org. 13 August 2016.
37. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, s/n 04497 USN, c/r N45084. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 August 2016.
38. Web site: National Naval Aviation Museum - Online Exhibits . 2011-07-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111002143124/http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/ExhibitsAndCollections/Online-Exhibits/Centennial-Milestones/Centennial-Milestone--The-Yellow-Peril,-February-9.aspx . 2011-10-02 .

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