PN-11

The Naval Aircraft Factory PN‑11 was a single‑engine, low‑wing patrol floatplane developed in the early 1930s to replace the aging PN‑9 series in the United States Navy’s coastal reconnaissance fleet. First flown on 12 June 1932 at the Naval Aircraft Factory’s Philadelphia plant, the prototype incorporated a metal monocoque fuselage and a semi‑retractable main float, a novel feature that reduced drag and increased cruising speed. Powered by a 750‑horsepower Wright R‑1820 Cyclone radial engine, the PN‑11 could reach 185 mph and had a range of 950 nautical miles, allowing it to patrol the Atlantic seaboard and Caribbean with extended endurance. Armament consisted of a forward‑firing .30‑caliber machine gun and a flexible .30‑caliber gun in the observer’s cockpit, plus a modest bomb load for anti‑submarine work. Only twelve production aircraft were built before the type was superseded by the more capable PBY Catalinas, but the PN‑11’s innovative float‑retraction system and all‑metal construction influenced later Navy seaplanes. Its brief service highlighted the transition from wood‑frame biplanes to more modern, all‑metal monoplanes, marking an important step in the evolution of maritime patrol aviation throughout the interwar period.