Curtiss JN4 Fighter

The Curtiss JN4 Fighter is an American World War I fighter plane in Empires: Dawn of the Modern World. It had a long flying time, stable structure, and low price tag. One of the first and best US planes.

Description[]

Few aircraft have such a solid reputation as the Curtis JN-4D "Jenny." One of the first aircraft used by the United States military, the Jenny grew out of Glenn Curtis' long-time efforts in the fledgling American aviation industry. The Curtis Aeroplane Company of Hammondsport, New York was one of the earliest suppliers of aircraft to the American armed forces, and Curtis himself was a pioneer aviator and aviation engineer. As World War I got under way in Europe, Curtis developed the J and N models for the US Army, but soon delivered an improved version that combined the traits of both, the Curtis JN. The JN-4 was the culmination of this evolution, which first flew in 1916. Powered by a 90HP Ox-5 engine, with a top speed of 75MPH, the Jenny could stay aloft for 2.5 hours, which was very good for the era. The design was so successful that Curtis and other companies wound up making some 6000 of the planes by 1919, most for the mobilizing American Army.

The JN-4D was the most successful of the Jenny line, and it was in these planes that the vast majority of American pilots in the war learned their trade. With a weight of less than 1,800 pounds and a cost of less than $5,500, the Jenny was also transportable, cheap, and easily produced, all desirable qualities in a plane that would have to travel thousands of miles to the front lines and equip a rapidly growing air force. Sometimes fitted with machine guns and bombs for combat training and operations, the JN-4D was a durable, reliable, and tough aircraft for its day. In Empires, the Jenny displays these qualities as well. It's long flight time makes it a constant presence on the battlefield, and its solid if not exceptional abilities make it a valuable addition to the World War I era American war effort. Historically, its two-seat configuration made it ideal for training, and relieved fatigue on long missions; the extra pair of eyes also enhanced spotting and situational awareness in the air. In the game, the Jenny is a solid foundation on which to build the growing American air armada.

After the war, thousands of JN-4s went into civilian service, as barnstormers, mail planes, and crop dusters. In a testament to the quality of the Jenny, the US Army kept the planes in service into the 1920s, upgrading their engines and making other improvements. In Empires, the Jenny also secures its place in history, as the first step on the United States' long road to aerial supremacy.^[1]