The Naval Aircraft Factory N3N was a United States two tandem-seat, open cockpit, primary training biplane aircraft. The N3N was the last biplane in US military service – the last (used by the U.S. Naval Academy for aviation familiarization) were retired in 1961.

• Role: Biplane Trainer
• National origin: United States of America
• Manufacturer: Naval Aircraft Factory
• Production line: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• First flight: August 1935
• Number built: 997 (180 N3N-1 and 816 N3N-3)

Specifications (N3N-3)

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)
• Wingspan: 34 ft 0 in (10.36 m)
• Height: 10 ft 10 in (3.3 m)
• Wing area: 305 ft² (28.3 m²)
• Empty weight: 2,090 lb (948 kg)
• Gross weight: 2,792 lb (1,266 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-760-2 Whirlwind radial, 235 hp (175 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 126 mph (203 km/h)
• Range: 470 miles (756 km)
• Service ceiling: 15,200 ft (4,635 m)
• Rate of climb: 900 ft/min ( m/s)

Communications were done by the instructor through a speaking tube to the aft-seated student. Communications back were agreed-upon gestures.