Potez 452

The Potez 452 was a French amphibious reconnaissance aircraft built by the Potez company during the early 1930s to meet the needs of the Service de l’Aviation Navale. First flying in 1932, the high‑wing monoplane was constructed of light‑weight metal and featured a single 9‑cylinder Lorraine 9N Algol radial engine delivering roughly 450 hp. Its most distinctive attribute was the combination of twin pontoons that housed retractable, land‑based wheels, allowing the aircraft to operate from both water and conventional airfields. With a maximum speed near 210 km/h, a service ceiling of 5 500 m and a range of about 1 000 km, the 452 could conduct extended coastal patrols, artillery spotting, and short‑range transport missions. Production remained modest, with fewer than 40 built, but the type served the French Navy throughout the 1930s and into the early months of World War II, despite being soon outclassed by more powerful designs. Its significance lies in demonstrating the practicality of amphibious platforms for naval reconnaissance, influencing later French seaplane projects and highlighting Potez’s role in early interwar aeronautical innovation.

Potez

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