12/31/2007. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "In 1927, Curtiss entered a design for a USN primary trainer and was awarded a contract for 31 Model 48 N2C-1 Fledgling; this was followed by a contract for 20 Model 48A N2C-2 Fledgling. Curtiss then produced a commercial version of the Model 48 as the Model 51 Fledgling which omitted the Navy equipment and used a more powerful engine. A total of 109 Model 51 Fledglings were manufactured including this aircraft.

In 1929, in an attempt to obtain more speed and maneuverability, Curtiss converted this aircraft to a Model 51 Fledgling Junior with a shorter wing span, i.e., 27 ft 10 in (8.48 m) versus the standard Fledgling wing measuring 39 ft 2 in (11.93 m). Maximum speed was increased but so was the landing speed and this model never went into production because it had more disadvantages than advantages."