Curtiss JN–4D "Jenny" Flight Notes

Many factors affect flight planning and aircraft operation, including aircraft weight, weather, and runway surface. The recommended flight parameters listed below are intended to give approximations for flights at maximum takeoff or landing weight on a day with International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) conditions.

 

Important: These instructions are intended for use with Flight Simulator only and are no substitute for using the actual aircraft manual for real-world flight. Note: As with all of the Flight Simulator aircraft, the V-speeds and checklists are located on the Kneeboard. To access the Kneeboard while flying, press F10, or select the Aircraft menu, and then choose Kneeboard. Note: All speeds given in Flight Notes are indicated airspeeds. If you're using these speeds as reference, be sure that you select "Display Indicated Airspeed" in the Realism Settings dialog box. Speeds listed in the specifications table are shown as true airspeeds.

 

By default, this aircraft has full fuel and payload. Depending on atmospheric conditions, altitude, and other factors, you will not get the same performance at gross weight that you would with a lighter load.

Required Runway Length

The Jenny is capable of taking off and landing on any runway in Flight Simulator.

Engine Startup

The engine is running by default when you begin a flight. If you shut the engine down, you can initiate an auto-startup sequence by pressing CTRL+E.

Taxiing

Taxiing in the Jenny requires you to make S-turns in order to see where you're going. As you move down the taxiway, turn the nose right and left to see ahead of you while taxiing by using the rudder (twist the joystick, use the rudder pedals, or press 0 [left] or ENTER [right] on the numeric keypad).

Flaps

The Curtiss Jenny doesn't have flaps.

Takeoff

Once aligned with the runway centerline, apply power smoothly (press F3 for incremental increase, or F4 for full throttle on the keyboard, or move the throttle on your joystick). As the airplane begins moving down the runway, push forward on the stick until the tail comes up. This will occur at around 25 mph but remember, the Jenny has no airspeed indicator. You have to learn to fly it by feel.

You'll notice the tail coming up because your forward view will suddenly improve as the aircraft changes from a nose-high attitude to a level attitude. Be careful not to give too much forward pressure on the stick at this point, as you can nose the plane over onto the prop.

Once the tail is up, ease the stick back and allow the plane to fly off the runway. You can be off the runway in less than 300 feet (91 meters).

Climb

Climb to cruise altitudes above stall speed. There is no attitude indicator in the Jenny, so listen to the wind. If the wind is getting louder, you're airspeed is increasing, indicating a descent. If the fuel gauge on the nose is above the horizon, you're climbing.

Cruise

The Jenny is not an airplane you would use for a long cross-country flight. Its fuel capacity is not large enough for extended flight. Because the Jenny doesn't have an autopilot, long flights would be fatiguing, requiring constant attention to straight-and-level flight.

If you do make flights with the Jenny to the extent of its range, keep in mind that its cruise speed is slow. You won't get there fast.

Descent

Descents in the Jenny are uncomplicated. You can easily descend at cruise speeds and slow down near the airport in time to set up your landing. One of the keys to flying the airplane is to get used to the changing sound of the wind whistling through the rigging (the wires strung between the wing struts). The louder the sound, the faster you're going.

Approach

The approach phase in the Jenny can be initiated close to your destination. Even entering the pattern at cruise speed is not a problem, as you can slow the Jenny quickly. However, it's always a good plan to enter the downwind leg close to your target landing speed.

Landing

The trick here is to remember that you're in a taildragger. You can make a three-point or wheel landing with the Jenny, but you may find it easiest to make a wheel landing. This means you have to fly the airplane onto the main wheels, instead of flaring as you do in a tricycle-gear airplane.

This will require practice, just as it does for taildragger pilots in the real world. You might find that you bounce quite a bit at first. Try to stabilize the approach speed precisely, remaining at that speed. If possible, make the final approach flat, rather than steep. There is no airspeed indicator so you have to get a feel for speed by practicing stalls at altitude.

Once on the ground, hold full back pressure on the stick (pull the joystick aft, or press the DOWN ARROW key).