Pottier P.40
Jean Pottier · France · first flew 1975 · light aircraft
The French tailless Pottier P.40 was the first aircraft designed by Jean Pottier, and it flew in 1975.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 2.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tailless layout with a swept low wing and a rectangular centre section
- Wing tip fins with outward-opening rudders extending a little below the wing
- Long canopy over a single-seat cockpit and a rear-mounted pusher engine on a low, faired bicycle undercarriage
A tiny flat-sided tailless aircraft with a long canopy, a 25 hp Volkswagen flat-four pusher engine at the rear and elevons on straight-tapered outer wing panels.
Specifications
- The Pottier P.40 has a length of 2.6 m (9 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6 m (20 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 180 km/h (112 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was the first of Pottier's many designs, begun around 1967, though not the first to fly as the P.70 flew in August 1974. Construction by Bela Nogrady started in 1968, but the first flight was not made until 1975.
Variants
Two machines were built, differing a little in engine cooling and exhaust arrangements. The second, OO-68, has a three-blade propeller rather than two.
Where you'll see it
The first P.40 made only one short flight and was then destroyed. The surviving example, OO-68, is on display in the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.
Related aircraft
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