Potez 53

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)

Specifications (1934 version)

Data from "Coupe Deutsch" 24 May 1934, p. 511

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Length: 5.72 m (18 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 7.10 m (23 ft 4 in)
• Wing area: 7.6 m² (82 ft²)
• Empty weight: 550 kg (1,212 lb)
• Gross weight: 925 kg (2,039 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Potez 9B, 260 kW (350 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 450 km/h (280 mph)

Notes

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Potez.

• "Coupe Deutsch". Flight: 510–511. 24 May 1934. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
• "Coupe Deutsch". Flight: 531–32. 31 May 1934. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
• de Narbonne, Roland (June 2003). "Un pur-sang né en un éclair". Le Fana de l'Aviation (403): 40–47. 
• "Potez 53". Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace website. Retrieved 2008-01-18. 
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. ISBN 0-7106-0710-5. 
• "The 1933 contest for the Deutsch de la Meurthe trophy". NACA Technical Memorandum no.724. Retrieved 2009-10-16. 
• "The 1934 contest for the Deutsch de la Meurthe trophy". NACA Technical Memorandum no.765. Retrieved 2009-10-13.