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Curtiss JN-3
The JN-3 represented the first series production of an aircraft in Canada and a major step towards aircraft production in Canada. When Glenn Curtiss began building aircraft for the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) in 1915 he built a factory in Canada and opened the Curtiss Aviation School to train pilots. Curtiss bgan construction of his JN-3 in Toronto in May 1915, with the first Canadian model flying on 14 July 1915, with all aircraft being completed in August that year.
The JN-3 was a standard trainer of the RNAS; however, its American origin resulted in it being received with some reservation at some RNAS stations. In the United Kingdom, modifications were made to some of the aircraft including fitting four-bladed propellers, and some wire braces replacing metal struts in an effort to strengthen the aircraft. The JN-3 also served in small numbers in Australia with their training system. In Canada, the JN-3s were used to train most of the 130 pilots who received their training with the Curtiss Aviation School. Of these, 128 joined the RNAS or the Royal Flying Corps.
A total of 104 JN-3 were built of which 18 were made in Canada - 12 for the RNAS and 6 for the Curtiss Aviation School. The Canadian Government expropriated the Curtiss plant in December 1916 and set up Canadian Aeroplanes Ltd. Although the plant proved to be too small, the machinery for the JN-3 was used for production of the JN-4 while most of the employees also transferred. Canadian Aeroplanes Ltd went on to build over 1260 JN-4s in Canada, with the machinery and personnel who built the JN-3s playing a major role in this success.
