P.Bowers Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947 (Putnam)

N-9 (Model 5) - The N-9 of late 1916 was essentially a JN-4B fitted with the 100 hp Curtiss OXX engine, a single float, a lengthened centre section, and 5 ft (1,52 m) lower wing extensions on each side of the fuselage in the manner of the prototype N-8 in order to carry the additional weight of the floats. The control system was the Deperdussin type with the control wheel operating the ailerons and a foot-bar controlling the rudder. The prototype used JN-4B vertical tail surfaces and oversized ailerons; the vertical fin was enlarged on production models.
   The US Army made limited use of the N-9, ordering fourteen early in 1917; the Navy was the principal user, ordering a total of 560 as primary trainers. Of these, only 100 were built by Curtiss; the rest were from Curtiss's wholly-owned subsidiary, the Burgess Co of Marblehead, Mass. Fifty additional airframes were built up at Navy bases from spare parts in the early 1920s; N-9s remained in US Navy service into 1927.

N-9C - Two designations were applied to the Navy N-9s. N-9C was not official but came into use after the later N-9H appeared in order to distinguish the original Curtiss-powered N-9s from the later versions. The principal identification point of the -9C was the exposed cylinder banks of the distinctive Curtiss OXX engine and the use of a nose radiator enlarged slightly over that of the JNs and the N-8 by having a curved area added at the bottom.

   US Navy serial numbers: (Curtiss) A60/65 (6), A85/90 (6), A201 /234 (34), A294/301 (8), A342/373 (32), A2285. (Burgess) A409/438 (30), A999/1028 (30), A2351/2409 (59).
   US Army serial numbers: 433/446 (14).

N-9C
   Trainer seaplane. Two pilots. 100 hp Curtiss OXX.
   Span 53 ft 4 in (16,25 m); length 29 ft 10 in (9,09 m); height 10 ft 10 1/2 in (3,31 m); wing area 496 sq ft (46,07 sq m).
   Empty weight 1,860 lb (844 kg); gross weight 2,410 lb (1,093 kg).
   Maximum speed 70 mph (112,65 km/h); climb in 10 min - 2,000 ft (610 m); range 200 miles (322 km).

N-9H - The N-9H designation was official, the letter identifying the 150 hp Wright-Hispano engine (Also known as the Wright A and the 'Hisso'). This installation differed considerably from the N-9C. The cylinder banks were exposed as on the N-9C but were different in appearance. The use of a large spinner over the propeller hub precluded the use of a nose radiator, so the cooling was done by a large column-like radiator that projected well above the wing. The Navy tested some N-9Hs with the 150 hp Curtiss K-6 engine but did not adopt the new powerplant. Cost was $10,050 less GFE.

   US Navy serial numbers: (Curtiss) A2286/2290 (5). (Burgess) A2410/2572 (163), A2574/2650 (77). (NAS Pensacola postwar assembly) A6528/6542 (15), A6618/6633 (16), A6733/6742 (10), A7091/7100 (10).

N-9H
   Trainer seaplane. Two pilots. 150 hp Wright A.
   Span 53 ft 4 in (16,25 m); length 30 ft 10 in (9,39 m); height 10 ft 11 in (3,32 m); wing area 496 sq ft (46,07 sq m).
   Empty weight 2,140 lb (971 kg); gross weight 2,750 lb (1,247 kg).
   Maximum speed 78 mph (125,52 km/h); climb in 10 min - 3,240 ft (987 m); service ceiling 6,600 ft (2,012 m).

N-10 - The N-10 was not a new design in the Curtiss N-series. The two known examples were one Curtiss N-9C (A365) and one Burgess N-9H (A2473) fitted with shortened equal-span two-bay wings to produce a faster aeroplane for other than primary training duty. The Curtiss model was later refitted with the Wright-Hispano engine.