France's Potez 63 day and night figher1

Potez 63.11 fighter:
France's Potez 63.11 fighter

Potez 63.11a fighter:
France's Potez 63.11a fighter

Potez 63s fighter:
France's 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

Variants

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:

  1. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
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