| Potez 53 | |
|---|---|
| The Potez 53 at Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace. | |
| Role | Racing aircraft |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Potez |
| First flight | 1933 |
| Number built | 2 Potez 53, 1 Potez 533 |
The Potez 53 was a racing aircraft built in France by Potez to contest the Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe in 1933.[1] It was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional design with an enclosed cockpit for the pilot.[2] The main units of the tailskid undercarriage retracted outwards into the undersides of the wings.[2]
Two machines were entered in the 1933 Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe.[3] The first (racing no.10) was flown by Georges Détré, who won first place, covering the 2,000 km (1,200 mi) closed-circuit course with an average speed of 323 km/h (201 mph).[4][2] The other (racing no.12) was flown by Gustave Lemoine, who abandoned after completing the fourth lap.[3]
Following this success, a new machine called Potez 533 (or 53-3) was built with various improvements for the 1934 race, including a slimmer and more streamlined fuselage and redesigned wings of increased area.[5][2] One of the two aircraft entered the previous years was refurbished as the Potez 532 (or 53-2), to act as a backup in the competition. Its fuselage was slightly lengthened for aerodynamic reasons, the wing was further enlarged and additional flaps were installed between the fuselage and ailerons.[5][2]
The two aircraft were flown by the same pilots as the previous year, but neither completed the 1934 race.[6] Gustave Lemoine, who was flying the Potez 533 (racing no.3), completed ten 100 km circuits with an average speed 368 km/h (229 mph) before being forced to withdraw due to a problem with the variable-pitch propeller.[6] Georges Détré, who was flying the older machine (racing no.1), completed only eight circuits before a broken oil pipe forced him to abandon the race.[6]
The remaining untouched Potez 53, winner of the 1933 race, is now preserved in the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace.[7] (France)
Data from "Coupe Deutsch" 24 May 1934, p. 511
General characteristics
Performance
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