PN

The Naval Aircraft Factory PN was a purpose‑built patrol and utility seaplane developed in the early 1920s to meet the United States Navy’s demand for a reliable, carrier‑compatible aircraft that could operate from both water and land. Designed in the NAF’s Washington, D.C., engineering shop, the PN featured a wooden fuselage with fabric covering, a high‑mounted cantilever wing, and twin float assemblies that could be swapped for a conventional wheeled undercarriage. Powered by a 400‑horse‑power Wright R‑1820 radial engine, the aircraft achieved a top speed of 115 mph, a range of 600 nm and a service ceiling of 13 500 ft, allowing it to conduct long‑range reconnaissance, anti‑submarine patrols, and limited cargo transport. Production was limited to a single prototype and a short series of ten pre‑production models, but the PN’s modular design influence can be traced to later NAF projects such as the TS‑2 and the more successful F4U Corsair. Although the PN never entered mass service, its experimental conversion system and emphasis on durability provided valuable data that helped shape Navy doctrine on flexible carrier‑borne aircraft during the interwar period, marking it as a modest yet pivotal step in American naval aviation history.