The Naval Aircraft Factory N-1 holds a distinct place in aviation history as the first aircraft designed and constructed by the Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF). Established on July 27, 1917, the NAF was created as the U.S. Navy's internal production arm, based at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Pennsylvania. The facility was intended to develop aeronautical technology and provide essential cost data during the First World War. The N-1 was the primary result of these early design-and-build efforts.
Designed as a maritime patrol floatplane, the N-1 featured a biplane configuration. Its most notable technical characteristic was the integration of the Davis gun, which is recognized as the first recoilless gun. To power the aircraft, the NAF utilized a single Liberty L-12 water-cooled V-12 piston engine. This engine produced 360 hp (270 kW) and drove a pusher propeller, a configuration that helped accommodate the aircraft's specialized role.
Production of the N-1 was limited to a prototype program in 1918. A total of four prototypes were completed. The program was plagued by technical failures and accidents; the very first prototype crashed during its maiden flight, although it was subsequently rebuilt. Ultimately, the program was canceled after two of the four prototypes were lost in serious crashes and the aircraft demonstrated poor overall performance.
In terms of flight specifications, the N-1 had a maximum takeoff weight of 5,900 lb (2,676 kg) and a wing area of 694 sq ft (64.5 m²). It was designed to carry a crew of two and could reach a maximum speed of 94 mph (151 km/h, 82 kn). While intended for the U.S. Navy, the aircraft never entered operational combat service due to the cancellation of the program.
The legacy of the N-1 is tied to the evolution of the Naval Aircraft Factory. While the NAF continued to manufacture and test aircraft long after the N-1 program ended, the organization was eventually disestablished during the later stages of World War II. No surviving examples of the N-1 are known to exist today.