Potez 15
Potez · France · first flew 1921 · fighter
The Potez 15 was a French two-seat biplane designed for reconnaissance and general military duties in the early 1920s, following the established formula of the wartime Breguet 14. It served with the Armée de l'Air and was exported to several countries.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Early 1920s French two-seat reconnaissance biplane
- Single tractor engine biplane with observer position aft
- Conventional post-WWI French military biplane design
A conventional equal-span biplane with a tractor engine, tandem open cockpits, and fixed undercarriage; the observer position in the rear cockpit with a ring-mounted gun is the key recognition feature in the reconnaissance role.
Specifications
- The Potez 15 has a length of 8.7 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.68 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 202 km/h (126 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Henry Potez after World War I, the Potez 15 first flew in 1921 and was ordered in substantial numbers for the French military. It was a conventional biplane representing the state of the art for reconnaissance aircraft in the immediate postwar period. The Potez firm went on to produce a long line of military and commercial aircraft during the interwar period.
Variants
The type was built in several sub-variants for different roles including photo-reconnaissance and maritime patrol; exported to several foreign air forces including Poland and Romania.
Where you'll see it
Operated by France and several Eastern European and South American air forces throughout the 1920s; retired as monoplane designs became standard in the early 1930s.
Related aircraft
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