Potez XI

Potez XI
Role	Fighter aircraft
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Potez
First flight	December 11, 1922
Number built	1

The Potez XI was the first fighter aircraft designed by the French company Potez. Designed in 1922, the only aircraft first flew on December 11 of that year, after which further development work stopped. It was built to meet CAP (chasse armée protection) 2 requirements created in 1919 by the new Directeur de L'Aeronautique, General Duval. It was to perform bomber, intercept and tactical reconnaissance for the military, as well as escort fighters. The aircraft was to be powered by a turbo-supercharged engine.^[1]

Specifications

Data from Flight International^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 9.08 m (29 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 12.7 m (41 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 46.2 m² (497 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,350 kg (2,976 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,000 kg (4,409 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lorraine-Dietrich 12D , 280 kW (370 hp) with a Rateau turbo-charger

Performance

• Maximum speed: 220 km/h (137 mph; 119 kn) at 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
• Cruising speed: 186 km/h (116 mph; 100 kn)
• Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,247 ft)

Armament

• 2× fixed forward firing 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns
• 2x 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns mounted on a manually aimed flexible mounting in the rear cockpit

References

1. Green, William; Gordon Swanborough (2001). The complete book of fighters: an illustrated encyclopedia of every fighter aircraft built and flown. Salamander. p. 481. ISBN 978-1-84065-269-7.
2. Flight International, Volume 15. IPC Transport Press Ltd. 1924. p. 49.