Timm N2T-1 Tutor

The Timm N2T‑1 Tutor was a primary trainer aircraft built by the O.W. Timm Aircraft Company in the early 1940s for the United States Navy. Developed from the earlier civilian Timm PT‑165, the N2T‑1 entered production in 1941 as the Navy’s answer to a shortage of inexpensive elementary trainers during World War II. The low‑wing monoplane featured a simple all‑metal semi‑monocoque fuselage, fixed tailwheel landing gear and a 125‑hp Lycoming O‑290‑J air‑cooled engine that delivered reliable performance at modest cost. Its two‑seat, side‑by‑side configuration allowed an instructor and student to share the cockpit, while generous control surfaces and a forgiving stall characteristic made it ideal for novice pilots. Only 260 examples were built, but the type saw widespread use at naval flight schools across the United States, contributing to the rapid expansion of the carrier‑based pilot pool. The N2T‑1’s straightforward construction and easy maintenance set a precedent for post‑war light trainers and demonstrated the viability of small commercial firms, such as O.W. Timm, in supplying military aircraft. Though quickly eclipsed by more powerful trainers after the war, the N2T‑1 remains an emblem of wartime ingenuity and the democratization of flight training.