France's Potez 63 day and night figher1
Potez 63.11 fighter:
Potez 63.11a fighter:
Potez 63s fighter:
Design
The Potez 63 was designed to meet a 1934 requirement for a day and night fighter.1
Prototype
On April 25, 1936 the Potez 630-01 prototype first flew.1
Production
- Total: 1,3951
Variants
- Potez 630: Day and night fighter.1 Crew 2-3.1
- Potez 631: Day and night fighter.1 Crew 2-3.1
- Potez 633: Light bomber.1 Crew of 2.1
- Potez 637: Reconnaissance.1 Crew of 3.1
- Potez 63.11: Army cooperation.1 Crew of 3.1
Usage
Mistaken Identity
There was a similar resemblance to the German Bf 110, and the Potez 63s were shot at by French and English fighters.1
Large Losses
By June 1940, out of 1,115 delivered to units, only 663 survived.1 Of these 251 were in North Africa.1
| Potez 6311 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Day fighter1 Night figher1 |
| Crew | 2-31 |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Gnome-Rhône 14 M4/MS piston1 |
| Cylinders | Radial1 |
| Cooling | |
| Net HP | 700 each1 |
| Propeller blades | 3 each1 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 42' 6"1 16 m1 |
| Length | 36' 4"1 11.07 m1 |
| Height | 11' 10.5"1 3.62 m1 |
| Wing area | 351.98 ft2 1 32.7 m2 1 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 5,401 lb1 2,450 kg1 |
| Loaded | 8,289 lb1 3,760 kg1 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ 14,765' / 4,500 m |
275 mph1 442 kph1 |
| Climb to 13,125' / 4,000 m |
5.9 minutes1 |
| Service ceiling | |
| Range | 758 miles1 1,220 km1 |
| Armament | |
| Forward firing | 2: 20 mm HS4041 |
| Rear cockpit | 1: 7.5 mm MAC 1934 MG1 |
| Under wing | 4: 7.5 mm MAC 1934 MG1 |
Sources:
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
