This two-engine aircraft was built by the French Potez company to fulfill a 1932 specification for a new reconnaissance bomber. Built as a private venture, this aircraft, designated the Potez 54, flew for the first time on 14 November 1933. Designed by Louis Coroller, it was intended as a four-seat aircraft capable of performing duties such as bomber, transport and long-range reconnaissance. The Potez 54 was a high-wing monoplane, of mixed wood and metal covering over a steel tube frame. The prototype had twin fins and rudders, and was powered by two 515 kW (690 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs V-12 engines in streamlined nacelles, which were connected to the fuselage by stub wings. The main landing gear units retracted into the nacelles, and auxiliary bomb racks were mounted beneath the stub wings. There were manually operated turrets at the nose and dorsal positions, as well as a semi-retractable dustbin-style ventral turret. During development, the original tailplane was replaced by a single fin and rudder, and in this form, the type was re-designated the Potez 540 and delivered to the Armee de I'Air on 25 November 1934.[1] A total of 192 Potez 540s were built.
Their first combat was in the Spanish Civil War, where they were employed by the Spanish loyalist side. A poor design that was already obsolete just two years after its introduction, when confronted by the higher performance German and Italian planes of the same period, the Potez 540 proved itself a failure in Spanish skies during the Civil War and was labelled as 'Flying Coffin' (Spanish: Ataúd Volante) by Spanish Republican pilots.[2] In the late 1930s, these aircraft were becoming obsolete so they were withdrawn from reconnaissance and bombing duties and were relegated to French transport units. They were also employed as paratrooper training and transport aircraft. By September 1939 and the beginning of World War II, they had been largely transferred to the French colonies in North Africa, where they continued to function in transport and paratrooper service. Their role in even these secondary assignments was problematic given their poor defensive armament and vulnerability to modern enemy fighters. Following the French capitulation to Germany in June 1940, those Potez 540s still flying served the Vichy French Air Force mainly in the French overseas colonies. Most of these machines were retired or destroyed by late 1943.
Variantsedit
Potez 54
One prototype, later converted (with twin tails) into the Potez 540 No. 1.
Potez 540
Production aircraft with 1 each of 590 kW (790 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs and 12Xjrs, (left and right hand rotation), V-12 inline engines. 185 built. Used by France and Spain.
Derivative of 540 powered by 540 kW (720 hp) Lorraine 12Hfrs Pétrel V-12 engines. 74 built. Used by France and Spain.
Potez 543
Production derivative of Potez 541, powered by 640 kW (860 hp) Gnome-Rhône 14Kdrs radial engines. 10 built for Romania, only eight were delivered and four were diverted to Spain for use by Spanish Republicans.
Barra, Francis (November 1996). "Courrier Lecteurs" [Readers Mail]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (44): 2. ISSN 1243-8650.
Bernad, Dénes; Cortet, Pierre & Coroller, Jean-Louis (October 1996). "La Saga des Potez 54 (fin): les Potez 541/543, variantes roumaines à moteurs en étoile" [The Story of the Potez 54: The Potez 541/543, Romanian variants and radial engines]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (43): 16–21. ISSN 1243-8650.
Cortet, Pierre & Coroller, Jean-Louis (December 1995). "Le Potez 540 (1e partie)". Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (33): 24–28. ISSN 1243-8650.
Cortet, Pierre & Coroller, Jean-Louis (January 1996). "Le Potez 540 (2e partie)". Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (34): 17–22. ISSN 1243-8650.
Cortet, Pierre & Coroller, Jean-Louis (February 1996). "Le Potez 540 (3e partie)". Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (35): 28–34. ISSN 1243-8650.
Cortet, Pierre & Coroller, Jean-Louis (March 1996). "Le Potez 540 (4e partie)". Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (36): 7–10. ISSN 1243-8650.
Cortet, Pierre & Coroller, Jean-Louis (April 1996). "Le Potez 540 (5e partie)". Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (37): 10–16. ISSN 1243-8650.
Cortet, Pierre & Coroller, Jean-Louis (September 1996). "Le Potez 540/542 (dernière partie)". Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (42): 7–13. ISSN 1243-8650.
Cortet, Pierre & Coroller, Jean-Louis (July 1996). "Le Potez 542 (2ème partie)". Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (40): 19–22. ISSN 1243-8650.
Cortet, Pierre & Coroller, Jean-Louis (August 1996). "Le Potez 54 au service de l'Espagne Républicaine" [The Potez 54 in Spanish Republican Service]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (41): 15–18. ISSN 1243-8650.
Ledet, Michel (June 1996). "Le Potez 542 (1ère partie)". Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (39): 28–32. ISSN 1243-8650.
Mombeek, Eric (May 2001). "Les trésors de Cazaux" [The Treasures of Cazaux]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (98): 44–47. ISSN 1243-8650.
Morareau, Lucien (May 1996). "Les Potez 54 de la Marine" [The Naval Potez 54s]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (38): 20–22. ISSN 1243-8650.
Young, Edward M. (1984). "France's Forgotten Air War". Air Enthusiast. No. 25. pp. 22–33. ISSN 0143-5450.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Potez 540.
Aviafrance - Potez 540
December 03, 2023
potez, french, multi, role, aircraft, 1930s, designed, built, potez, served, with, french, force, reconnaissance, bomber, also, serving, with, spanish, republican, force, during, spanish, civil, although, obsolete, bomber, remained, service, support, roles, fr. The Potez 540 was a French multi role aircraft of the 1930s Designed and built by Potez it served with the French Air Force as a reconnaissance bomber also serving with the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Spanish Civil War Although obsolete as a bomber it remained in service in support roles and in France s overseas colonies at the start of World War II Potez 540Aircraft Potez 54 fitted with 2 Hispano Suiza 650 HP enginesRole Reconnaissance bomberManufacturer PotezFirst flight 14 November 1933Introduction 1934Primary user French Air ForceNumber built 192Serial N Potez 542 of the Spanish Republican Air Force Its crash would inspire French writer Andre Malraux to make a movie named L Espoir Contents 1 History 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Specifications Potez 540 5 See also 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksHistory editThis two engine aircraft was built by the French Potez company to fulfill a 1932 specification for a new reconnaissance bomber Built as a private venture this aircraft designated the Potez 54 flew for the first time on 14 November 1933 Designed by Louis Coroller it was intended as a four seat aircraft capable of performing duties such as bomber transport and long range reconnaissance The Potez 54 was a high wing monoplane of mixed wood and metal covering over a steel tube frame The prototype had twin fins and rudders and was powered by two 515 kW 690 hp Hispano Suiza 12Xbrs V 12 engines in streamlined nacelles which were connected to the fuselage by stub wings The main landing gear units retracted into the nacelles and auxiliary bomb racks were mounted beneath the stub wings There were manually operated turrets at the nose and dorsal positions as well as a semi retractable dustbin style ventral turret During development the original tailplane was replaced by a single fin and rudder and in this form the type was re designated the Potez 540 and delivered to the Armee de I Air on 25 November 1934 1 A total of 192 Potez 540s were built Their first combat was in the Spanish Civil War where they were employed by the Spanish loyalist side A poor design that was already obsolete just two years after its introduction when confronted by the higher performance German and Italian planes of the same period the Potez 540 proved itself a failure in Spanish skies during the Civil War and was labelled as Flying Coffin Spanish Ataud Volante by Spanish Republican pilots 2 In the late 1930s these aircraft were becoming obsolete so they were withdrawn from reconnaissance and bombing duties and were relegated to French transport units They were also employed as paratrooper training and transport aircraft By September 1939 and the beginning of World War II they had been largely transferred to the French colonies in North Africa where they continued to function in transport and paratrooper service Their role in even these secondary assignments was problematic given their poor defensive armament and vulnerability to modern enemy fighters Following the French capitulation to Germany in June 1940 those Potez 540s still flying served the Vichy French Air Force mainly in the French overseas colonies Most of these machines were retired or destroyed by late 1943 Variants editPotez 54 One prototype later converted with twin tails into the Potez 540 No 1 Potez 540 Production aircraft with 1 each of 590 kW 790 hp Hispano Suiza 12Xirs and 12Xjrs left and right hand rotation V 12 inline engines 185 built Used by France and Spain Potez 541 540 re engined with 640 kW 860 hp Gnome Rhone 14Kdrs radial engines One converted from a 540 Potez 542 Derivative of 540 powered by 540 kW 720 hp Lorraine 12Hfrs Petrel V 12 engines 74 built Used by France and Spain Potez 543 Production derivative of Potez 541 powered by 640 kW 860 hp Gnome Rhone 14Kdrs radial engines 10 built for Romania only eight were delivered and four were diverted to Spain for use by Spanish Republicans Operators edit nbsp FranceArmee de l Air French Navy nbsp ItalyRegia Aeronautica nbsp RomaniaRoyal Romanian Air Force nbsp Spanish RepublicSpanish Republican Air ForceSpecifications Potez 540 editGeneral characteristics Crew 4 to 7 dependent on whether functioning as transport or bomber Length 16 2 m 53 ft 2 in Wingspan 22 1 m 72 ft 6 in Height 3 88 m 12 ft 9 in Wing area 76 m2 820 sq ft Empty weight 3 785 kg 8 344 lb Gross weight 5 950 kg 13 118 lb Powerplant 2 Hispano Suiza 12Xirs V 12 liquid cooled piston engines 515 kW 691 hp each left hand rotation Performance Maximum speed 310 km h 190 mph 170 kn at 3 962 m 12 999 ft Range 1 250 km 780 mi 670 nmi Service ceiling 10 000 m 33 000 ft Armament Guns 3 5 7 5 mm 0 295 in MAC 1934 machine guns in flexible nose dorsal and ventral positions Bombs 4 225 kg 496 lb bombs on external racks or 10 55 kg 121 lbs See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era LWS 6 Zubr SAB AB 80Related lists List of Interwar military aircraft List of aircraft of World War II List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air ForceReferences edit The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Part Work 1982 1985 Orbis Publishing Potez 540 542 Archived 2011 08 11 at the Wayback MachineBibliography editBarra Francis November 1996 Courrier Lecteurs Readers Mail Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 44 2 ISSN 1243 8650 Bernad Denes Cortet Pierre amp Coroller Jean Louis October 1996 La Saga des Potez 54 fin les Potez 541 543 variantes roumaines a moteurs en etoile The Story of the Potez 54 The Potez 541 543 Romanian variants and radial engines Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 43 16 21 ISSN 1243 8650 Cortet Pierre amp Coroller Jean Louis December 1995 Le Potez 540 1e partie Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 33 24 28 ISSN 1243 8650 Cortet Pierre amp Coroller Jean Louis January 1996 Le Potez 540 2e partie Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 34 17 22 ISSN 1243 8650 Cortet Pierre amp Coroller Jean Louis February 1996 Le Potez 540 3e partie Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 35 28 34 ISSN 1243 8650 Cortet Pierre amp Coroller Jean Louis March 1996 Le Potez 540 4e partie Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 36 7 10 ISSN 1243 8650 Cortet Pierre amp Coroller Jean Louis April 1996 Le Potez 540 5e partie Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 37 10 16 ISSN 1243 8650 Cortet Pierre amp Coroller Jean Louis September 1996 Le Potez 540 542 derniere partie Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 42 7 13 ISSN 1243 8650 Cortet Pierre amp Coroller Jean Louis July 1996 Le Potez 542 2eme partie Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 40 19 22 ISSN 1243 8650 Cortet Pierre amp Coroller Jean Louis August 1996 Le Potez 54 au service de l Espagne Republicaine The Potez 54 in Spanish Republican Service Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 41 15 18 ISSN 1243 8650 Ledet Michel June 1996 Le Potez 542 1ere partie Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 39 28 32 ISSN 1243 8650 Mombeek Eric May 2001 Les tresors de Cazaux The Treasures of Cazaux Avions Toute l Aeronautique et son histoire in French 98 44 47 ISSN 1243 8650 Morareau Lucien May 1996 Les Potez 54 de la Marine The Naval Potez 54s Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 38 20 22 ISSN 1243 8650 Young Edward M 1984 France s Forgotten Air War Air Enthusiast No 25 pp 22 33 ISSN 0143 5450 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Potez 540 Aviafrance Potez 540 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Potez 540 amp oldid 1118340678, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
