Potez 661

12/31/2009. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "Derived from a projected bomber, design of the Potez 661 twelve-passenger airliner started in 1936. Of all-metal construction the aircraft was fitted with a comfortable sound-proof and air-conditioned cabin.

Powered by four 220 hp Renault 6Q-02 six-cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line engines, the aircraft first flew on November 18, 1937. After receiving its CofA in 1938 the aircraft was subsequently registered F-AQJB to Régie Air Afrique, who used the aircraft, baptized Ville de Bamako (a city in Mali) at their Algiers (Algeria)-Niamey (Niger) route. The airline wanted more examples, however, military aircraft manufacturing had a higher priority.

Potez 662 (Pierre Bregerie Collection)

On request of the military a second aircraft was produced, designated Potez 662, this twelve-seat transport aircraft had a reinforced structure and was powered by four 660 hp Gnome & Rhône 14M-5 fourteen-cylinder two-row radial engines; it was first flown on July 26, 1938. It was requisitioned by the Vichy government in July 1940 and registered F-ARAY it was used as a liaison aircraft.

When General Charles Huntziger became Secretary of War, the Potez 662 became his personal transport, in which he died when the aircraft crashed on Mount Aigoual in the Massif Central, France, on November 1, 1941."

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Potez 661

73 ft 9.8 in (22.50 m)
55 ft 3.4 in (16.85 m)
14 ft 9.2 in (4.40 m)
615.16 sq.ft (57.15 sq.m)
8,748 lb (3,986 kg)
14,220 lb (6,450 kg)
203 mph (326 kmh)
186 mph (300 kmh)
19,685 ft (6,000 m)
932 mls (1,500 km)

Potez 662

73 ft 7.9 in (22.45 m)
55 ft 3.4 in (16.85 m)
14 ft 9.2 in (4.40 m)
615.16 sq.ft (57.15 sq.m)
12,125 lb (5,500 kg)
18,739 lb (8,580 kg)
289 mph (465 kmh)
249 mph (400 kmh)
19,685 ft (6,000 m)
621 mls (1,000 km)