The Potez 43 was a family of French light utility and sports aircraft, developed in early 1930s. They were three-seat single-engine high-wing

monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing con ...

Design and development

The plane was a development of Potez 36. First of all it featured new, slimmer fuselage, with three seats, instead of two. A disadvantage were non-folding wings, with shorter

slats Super Low Altitude Test Satellite (SLATS) or Tsubame was a JAXA satellite intended to demonstrate operations in very low Earth orbit (VLEO, below 200 km), using ion engines to counteract aerodynamic drag (physics), drag from the atmosphere ...

. The original Potez 430 first flew in June 1932, powered by a Potez 6Ас radial engine. 25 examples of this variant were completed, followed by other variants, differing with the last digit in designation. Other variants built in significant numbers were Potez 431 and Potez 438. 161 of Potez 43 family were built in total.

Operational service

Two Potez 430s (registrations: F-AMBM and F-AMBN) took part in the

Challenge 1932 The Challenge 1932 was the third Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, FAI International Tourist Plane Competition (), that took place between 12 and August 28, 1932, in Berlin, Germany. The four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviat ...

international tourist plane contest. Pierre Duroyon took the 22nd place (for 43 starting and 24 finishing crews), while Georges Detre was disqualified due to low cruise speed.

Variants

;Potez 430 :First version, Potez 6Ас engine, 25 built. ;Potez 431 :Modified series version of 1933, Potez 6Ас engine, 60 built. ;Potez 432 :Version with Renault 4Pei engine, 3 built (first flew 21 April 1933). ;Potez 434 :Version with de Havilland Gipsy Major I straight engine, 9 built (first flew 2 November 1933). ;Potez 435 :Version with Renault 4Pdi engine, 11 built (first flew 23 June 1933). ;Potez 436 ;Potez 437 :Modified version with Renault 4Pdi engine, 9 built (first flew 17 July 1934). ;Potez 438 :Military trainer and liaison version with Renault 4Pdi engine and a tail wheel, of 1934. 40 built (according to other sources, 33). ;Potez 439

Operators

; *

French Air Force The French Air and Space Force (, , ) is the air force, air and space force of the French Armed Forces. Formed in 1909 as the ("Aeronautical Service"), a service arm of the French Army, it became an independent military branch in 1934 as the Fr ...

Specifications (Potez 430)

Mixed construction

strut A strut is a structural component commonly found in engineering, aeronautics, architecture and anatomy. Struts generally work by resisting longitudinal compression, but they may also serve in tension. A stay is sometimes used as a synonym for ...

ted high-wing

. A steel framed fuselage covered with

canvas Canvas is an extremely durable Plain weave, plain-woven Cloth, fabric used for making sails, tents, Tent#Marquees and larger tents, marquees, backpacks, Shelter (building), shelters, as a Support (art), support for oil painting and for other ite ...

. Rectangular two-spar wing, with rounded ends, of wooden construction, canvas covered. Wings were equipped with

on 1/3 span and supported with main V-shaped struts. Closed cabin with three seats, well glazed. Engine in front, two-blade propeller. Conventional fixed

landing gear Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft that is used for taxiing, takeoff or landing. For aircraft, it is generally needed for all three of these. It was also formerly called ''alighting gear'' by some manufacturers, s ...

, with a rear skid, wheels in teardrop covers.

References

Bibliography

External links

Photos and drawing at Ugolok Neba page
{{Potez aircraft 1930s French civil utility aircraft 043 High-wing aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1932