Howard NH-1

The Howard NH‑1 was a light, single‑engine trainer and liaison aircraft built in the United States during the early 1930s by the Howard Aircraft Corporation, a small but innovative manufacturer founded by aviation pioneer Howard C. W. Howard. Designed originally as a civilian high‑wing monoplane for sport flying, the NH‑1 was quickly adapted for military use when the U.S. Army Air Corps and National Guard requested a low‑cost, easy‑maintenance aircraft for pilot training and communications duties. The airframe featured an all‑metal stressed‑skin construction, a 125‑hp Lycoming R‑680 radial engine, and a simple two‑seat side‑by‑side cockpit with dual controls. Its high wing and fixed, wide‑track landing gear gave excellent stability on rough fields, while interchangeable wings allowed rapid conversion between a standard trainer configuration and a float‑plane version for naval exercises. Although only 23 examples were produced before Howard Aircraft ceased operations in 1935, the NH‑1 demonstrated the viability of metal monoplanes for low‑volume handlers and influenced later designs such as the Fairchild PT‑19. Its legacy endures as a testament to the ingenuity of small manufacturers who helped bridge the transition from wood‑and‑fabric biplanes to all‑metal aircraft in the interwar period.