Potez 56

The Potez 56 was a 1930s French executive transport monoplane built by Potez and later used as a military crew trainer and liaison aircraft.

Potez 56
Role Eight-seat executive monoplane
National origin France
Manufacturer Potez
Designer Louis Coroller
First flight 1934
Number built 72

Development

Designed by Louis Coroller, the Potez 56 was a cantilever low-wing monoplane of mainly wood construction. It had a single fin and rudder and was powered by two Potez 9Ab radial engines. It had a retractable conventional landing gear, and room for a crew of two and six passengers. The prototype first flew on 18 June 1934, and production commenced for the civil market. The military soon became interested in the aircraft and ordered versions for twin-engined training, liaison duties and as a target tug. The most unusual version was the Potez 565, modified with an arrester hook for use on the aircraft carrier Béarn, onto which it made an arrested landing, and took off again in March 1936.

Operators
 Chile
 France
 Romania
  • LARES (Liniile Aeriene Române Exploatate de Stat)[2]
  • SARTA (Societatea Anonimă Română de Transporturi Aeriene[2]
 Spain

Variants
Potez 56
Prototype, one built.
Potez 56E
A single prototype of a 3-seat shipboard reconnaissance aircraft, powered by 2x 138 kW (185 hp) Potez 9Ab radial engines
Potez 56-T.3
3-seat trainer, powered by 2x 180 kW (240 hp) Potez 9E radial engines. Alternative designation of the Potez 566
Potez 560
Civil production aircraft, 16 built.
Potez 561
Modified version with improved performance, 3 built.
Potez 565
One aircraft with streamlined fuselage and fitted with arrester hook for aircraft carrier use.
Potez 566
Military version fitted with a manual-operated dorsal turret and a ventral nacelle for an observer, three built, also known as the Potez 56-T.3.
Potez 567
Naval version for use as a target tug, 22 built.
Potez 568
French Air Force crew-training version, 26 built, also known as the Potez 568 P.3.


Specifications (560)

Data from [3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 6 passengers
  • Length: 11.84 m (38 ft 10.25 in)
  • Wingspan: 16 m (52 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 4.6 m (15 ft 1.25 in)
  • Wing area: 33 m2 (355.22 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,910 kg (4,211 lb)
  • Gross weight: 2,980 kg (6,570 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Potez 9Ab radial piston , 138 kW (185 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 270 km/h (168 mph, 146 kn)
  • Range: 650 km (404 mi, 351 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,000 m (19,685 ft)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
  1. Stoud 1966, p. 181.
  2. Stroud 1966, p. 182.
  3. Orbis 1985, page 2775
  • Stroud, John (1966). European Transport Aircraft since 1910. London: Putnam.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
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