Naval Aircraft Factory N-1

N-1 Davis Gun Carrier
Role	Maritime patrol aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Naval Aircraft Factory
Designer	Jerome Clarke Hunsaker
First flight	22 May 1918
Status	Canceled
Primary user	United States Navy
Produced	1918
Number built	4

The Naval Aircraft Factory N-1 or Davis Gun Carrier was a 1918 maritime patrol aircraft built by the Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF), the in-house aircraft production arm of the United States Navy. A floatplane of biplane configuration with a single Liberty L-12 engine driving a pusher propeller, it was the first aircraft to be both designed and built by the NAF, and was designed to carry the Davis gun, the first recoilless gun. The first prototype crashed during its maiden flight due to poorly designed floats but was rebuilt. However, the aircraft's performance did not meet expectations, and navy leaders canceled the program after 2 of the 4 prototypes were subsequently damaged in serious crashes. ^[1]

Specifications

Data from Wings for the Navy ^{[1] [2]}

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Wing area: 694 sq ft (64.5 m²)
• Max takeoff weight: 5,900 lb (2,676 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Liberty L-12 water-cooled 45° V-12 piston engine, 360 hp (270 kW) with pusher propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 94 mph (151 km/h, 82 kn)

Armament

• Guns: 1 x Davis gun

References

1. Trimble 1990, pp. 35–36.
2. Trimble 1990, p. 335.

Bibliography

• Trimble, William F. (1990). Wings for the Navy: A History of the Naval Aircraft Factory, 1917-1956 (1st ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   0-87021-663-5.