Aircraft by Henry Potez (1925) (ebook)

Aiorcraft by Henry Potez

Supplier of French and foreign governments

1925

A lavishly printed hagiography of Henry Potez's aircraft, illustrated with small drawings by Jeanjean. It was probably given to distinguished visitors to the Potez factories in Méaulte.

It begins with philosophical reflections on the youth and dynamism of aviation and how the young Henry Potez, in the aftermath of the First World War, built his first aircraft factory on the ruins of his family's flour mill, which had been destroyed in the war. Not to mention the excellent customers that Poland and Romania were at the time.

There are some extraordinary paragraphs on tourist aviation, evoking the Queen of Sheba, Tristan and Yselt, and Mephistopheles to introduce the Potez VIII tourist and training aircraft.

Next, two pages refer to d'Annunzio to describe the three missions of aviation: observation, fighter and bomber. This leads to the introduction of the Potez XV, 24, 25 and 27 observation aircraft, the Potez XIX bomber, the Potez 23 and 26 fighter aircraft, and the Potez HB2 seaplane.

Finally, there are some technical considerations on the characteristics of Potez aircraft: removable duralumin engine mounts, elastic landing gear, modern alloy fittings and wooden cockpits.

The production facility: a factory where 2,800 workers could produce nearly 2,000 aircraft per year, with its own hydroelectric plant.

A fascinating historical, artistic and technical document.

32 pages – in French – PDF to download