View source for Potez 25

{{Short description|1920s French reconnaissance aircraft family}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = Potez 25
| image = Potez 25 1 (MAE).JPG
| caption = 
| type = [[Aerial reconnaissance|Reconnaissance]]<br>[[Bomber]]<br>[[Fighter aircraft|Fighter]]
| manufacturer = [[Potez]]<br />[[Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów|PWS]]
| designer = 
| first_flight = 1924
| introduction = 1925
| retired = 1940s
| status = 
| primary_user = [[French Air Force]]
| more_users = [[Polish Air Force]]
| produced = 
| number_built = 4,000 (2,500 in France)
| unit cost = 
| developed_from = [[Potez 23]]
| variants = [[Potez 26]], [[Potez 27]]
}}

'''Potez 25''' (also written as '''Potez XXV''') was a French twin-seat, single-engine [[sesquiplane]] designed during the 1920s. A light multi-purpose [[Strike fighter|fighter-bomber]], it was designed as a line aircraft and used in a variety of roles, including [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]] and escort missions, [[tactical bombing]] and [[Aerial reconnaissance|reconnaissance]] missions. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Potez 25 was the standard multi-purpose aircraft of over 20 air forces, including French and [[Poland|Polish]]. It was also popular among private operators, notably mail transport companies.

The aircraft was further developed into the [[Potez 25M|25M]], a standard [[Parasol wing|parasol-wing]] [[monoplane]], which never entered production.

==Design and development==
In 1923, the [[Potez|Avions Henry Potez]] aircraft works started production of a successful [[Potez 15]] reconnaissance biplane. Basing on experience gathered during the construction of that aircraft, [[Henry Potez]] started working on a new design of a heavier and faster multi-purpose aircraft. Designated '''Potez XXV''' or '''Potez 25''', the [[prototype]] was built already in 1924. The main differences included a larger, more powerful engine and a new wing design. Instead of a classic biplane, Potez introduced a sesquiplane, with the lower wing significantly smaller. It was built in two main military variants: Potez 25A2 reconnaissance aircraft and Potez 25B2 bomber-reconnaissance aircraft.

In May 1925, the prototype was tested at the ''Service Technique d'Aeronautique'' Institute and was found a promising construction both for its manoeuvrability, speed and durability. Following the tests, the prototype entered serial production. To promote the new aircraft abroad, in a post-[[World War I]] market filled with hundreds of cheap demobilized aircraft, the Potez 25 was entered into a large number of races. Among the best-known achievements was a European rally (7,400&nbsp;km/4,598&nbsp;mi) and a Mediterranean rally (6,500&nbsp;km/4,039&nbsp;mi), both won by pilots flying the Potez. In 1920s, the Potez 25 was also used in a well-advertised Paris-Tehran rally (13,080&nbsp;km/8,127&nbsp;mi). In June 1930, [[Henri Guillaumet]] crashed with his Potez 25 in the [[Andes]] during an air mail flight. He survived after trekking through the mountains and was found after one week of searching.

Such achievements added to aircraft's popularity and made it one of the most successful French aircraft of the epoch. It was bought by a number of air forces, including those of France, [[Switzerland]], [[Belgium]], [[Brazil]], [[Croatia]], [[Estonia]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Finland]], [[Greece]], [[Spain]], [[Japan]], [[Yugoslavia]], Paraguay, Poland, [[Portugal]], [[Romania]], [[Turkey]] and the USSR. After the USSR acquired two aircraft for testing, they decided against further purchases, finding it comparable to the native [[Polikarpov R-5]]. Altogether, approximately 2,500 aircraft were built in France.

Already in 1925, Poland bought a licence for Potez 25 and started to manufacture them in [[Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów]] (PWS, 150 built) and [[Plage i Laśkiewicz]] aircraft works (150 built). In 1928 the first Polish-built Potez 25 were tested by the Technical Aviation Development Institute in Warsaw and the design was slightly modified to better fit the needs of the Polish air forces. Among the notable differences were the introduction of [[leading edge slot]]s. The production in Poland ceased in 1932. Altogether, 300 aircraft were built in a number of versions for long- and short-range reconnaissance and daylight tactical bombing. As the original Lorraine-Dietrich 12Eb engine was unavailable in Poland, it was replaced in 47 aircraft with a more powerful [[Bristol Jupiter|PZL Bristol Jupiter VIIF]] [[radial engine]], starting from 1936.

In Romania, Potez 25 was produced by [[Industria Aeronautică Română|IAR]]. Several other countries manufactured Potez 25s under licence.

==Variants==

;Potez 25:One prototype aircraft, powered by a {{convert|336|kW|hp|abbr=on}} [[Hispano-Suiza 12Ga]] W-12 engine.<ref name="AvFrpotez25">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=Potez 25 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=8965&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=1057&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |access-date=23 December 2019 |language=fr |date=3 December 2000}}</ref> 
[[File:Potez 25 A2 Salmson.JPG|thumb|Potez 25 A.2 with Salmson engine]]
;Potez 25 A.2
:Two-seat observation version, powered by a {{convert|388|kW|hp|abbr=on}} [[Salmson 18Cmb]] or [[Lorraine 12Eb]] engine.
;Potez 25.5
:Production version, powered by a {{convert|373|kW|hp|abbr=on}} [[Renault 12Jb]], 100 built.
;Potez 25.8
:A reconnaissance-bomber powered by a single {{convert|500|hp|kW|abbr=on|disp=flip}} [[Farman 12Wc]] W-12 engine, several dozen of which were built.<ref name="AvFrpotez25.8">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=Potez 25.8 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=10244&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=1057&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |access-date=23 December 2019 |language=fr |date=7 July 2011}}</ref>
;Potez 25.12
:Reconnaissance aircraft, approximately 280 built, powered by {{convert|520|hp|kW|abbr=on|disp=flip}} [[Salmson 18Cmb]] 18 cyl. 9-bank in-line radial engines, (9 pairs of cylinders one behind the other, not staggered).<ref name="AvFrpotez25.12">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=Potez 25.12 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=10172&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=1057&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |access-date=23 December 2019 |language=fr |date=24 March 2008}}</ref>
;Potez 25.23
:A single P-25.12, (n°71), modified for a tour of europe from 14 to 22 September 1928.<ref name="AvFrpotez25.23">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=Potez 25.23 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=10171&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=1057&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |access-date=23 December 2019 |language=fr |date=24 March 2008}}</ref>
;Potez 25.35
:Two-seat target-tug version. 
;Potez 25.36
:Two-seat monoplane version
;Potez 25.44
:A reconnaissance-bomber powered by a single {{convert|500|hp|kW|abbr=on|disp=flip}} [[Renault 12Jb]] V-12 engine, 74 of which were built.<ref name="AvFrpotez25.44">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=Potez 25.44 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=10173&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=1057&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |access-date=23 December 2019 |language=fr |date=24 March 2008}}</ref>
;Potez 25.47
:A single liaison two-seater built especially for the [[Ministère de l'Air]] powered by a {{convert|600|hp|kW|abbr=on|disp=flip}} [[Hispano-Suiza 12Lb]] V-12 engine.<ref name="AvFrpotez25.47">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=Potez 25.47 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=10249&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=1057&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |access-date=23 December 2019 |language=fr |date=24 March 2008}}</ref>
;Potez 25.55
:Two-seat [[Flight training|training]] version. 40 built.
;Potez 25 ET.2
:Two-seat intermediate training version, powered by a {{convert|373|kW|hp|abbr=on}} [[Salmson 18Ab]] radial engine.
;Potez 25 Farman 
:Two-seat observation version for the [[French Air Force]], powered by a {{convert|373|kW|hp|abbr=on}} [[Farman 12We]]. Also known as the '''Potez 25/4'''. 12 built.
;Potez 25GR
:Long-range version, powered by {{cvt|450|hp|disp=flip}} [[Lorraine 12Eb]] W-12 engines.<ref name="AvFrpotez25gr">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=Potez 25 G.R. |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=10155&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=1057&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=|website=Aviafrance |access-date=23 December 2019|language=fr|date=25 November 2007}}</ref>
;Potez 25 'Jupiter'
:Export version, powered by a {{convert|313|kW|hp|abbr=on}} [[Gnome-Rhône 9Ac Jupiter]] radial. Built under licence by [[Ikarbus]] in Yugoslavia and [[OGMA]] in Portugal, exported to Estonia and Switzerland.<ref name="AvFrpotez25gr"/>
;Potez 25H
:Two [[floatplane]] prototypes, each one was powered by [[Gnome-Rhône 9A Jupiter]] radials.
;Potez 25 Hispano-Suiza
:VIP transport version, powered by a {{convert|447|kW|hp|abbr=on}} [[Hispano-Suiza 12Lb]]. 
;Potez 25M
:one Hispano-Suiza powered aircraft was converted into a parasol-wing monoplane.
[[File:Potez_25_O_L'Aéronautique_January,1926.jpg|alt=|thumb|Potez 25 O photo from L'Aéronautique January,1926]]
;Potez 25-O
:Specially strengthened and modified version, built for a non-stop North-Atlantic crossing. The aircraft was powered by a Jupiter radial, fitted with jettisonable landing gear and a strengthened landing skid. Only two were built.
;Potez 25TOE
:Major production version, 795 built, powered by {{convert|450|hp|kW|abbr=on|disp=flip}} [[Lorraine 12Eb]] W-12 engines.<ref name="AvFrpotez25 TOE">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=Potez 25 TOE |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=8964&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=1057&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |access-date=23 December 2019 |language=fr |date=24 March 2008}}</ref>
[[File:Clerget 14 F.jpg|right|thumb|A Clerget 14F diesel aircraft engine preserved at the Conservatoire de l'Air et de l'Espace d’Aquitaine]]
;Potez 25 engine test bed
: A single Potez 25 was used to test a [[Clerget 14F-01]] 14-cylinder, two-row radial diesel engine. This aircraft, complete with diesel engine was probably the aircraft exported to [[Japan]] which became the Potez CXP1 of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service]] (IJNAS).

==Operators==
;{{flag|Afghanistan|1930}}
*[[Afghan Air Force]]
;{{BEL}}
*[[Belgian Air Force]]
;{{BRA}}
*[[Brazilian Air Force]]
;{{CHN-ROC}}
*[[Chinese Nationalist Air Force]]<ref name="chi p279">Andersson 2009, p. 279.</ref>
*[[Fengtian clique|Fengtian (Manchuria)]]<ref name="chi p68,279">Andersson 2009, pp. 68, 275.</ref>
*[[Sichuan clique]]<ref name="chi p85-6,279">Andersson 2009, pp. 85–86, 279.</ref>
;{{flag|Independent State of Croatia}}
*''[[Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia|Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske]]'' captured 42 from the Royal Yugoslav Air Force.
;{{flag|Ethiopia|1897}}
*[[Ethiopian Air Force]] acquired 3 aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Borja |first1=Elizabeth |title=The Dream of Abyssinia: Two Black Aviators and Ethiopia |url=http://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/dream-abyssinia-two-black-aviators-and-ethiopia |website=National Air and Space Museum |access-date=3 March 2021 |date=27 February 2021}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=March 2021}}
;{{EST}}
*[[Estonian Air Force]] operated Potez 25 Jupiter up to 1940.
;{{FIN}}
*[[Finnish Air Force]] purchased one Potez 25 A.2 in 1927 and evaluated until 1936.
;{{FRA}}
*[[French Air Force]]
*[[French Naval Aviation]]<ref>Morareau 1991, p. 19</ref>
;{{Flag|Vichy France}}
* [[Vichy French Air Force]]
;{{flag|Free France}}
*[[Free French Air Force]]
;{{flag|Greece|old}}
*[[Hellenic Air Force]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Greek Potez|url=http://www.ww2incolor.com/other/Royal-Hellenic-AF-Potez-PZL-P25-coded-E6-Greece-1941-01.html|work=www.ww2incolor.com|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
;{{flag|Guatemala}}
*[[Guatemalan Air Force]]
;{{flagcountry|Empire of Japan}}
*[[Imperial Japanese Army Air Service]]
*[[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service]] – Purchased as ''Potez CXP''.
;{{flag|Paraguay|1942}}
*[[Military of Paraguay#Air Force|Paraguayan Air Force]] operated a total of 14 aircraft, six Potez 25 A.2 and eight Potez 25 TOE during the [[Chaco War]] against Bolivia.
;{{POL}}
*[[Polish Air Force]] operated 16 aircraft bought in France and another 300 aircraft manufactured in Poland.
;{{PRT}}
*[[Portuguese Air Force]]<ref name="AE73 p23">Niccoli 1998, p. 23.</ref>
;{{flagcountry|Kingdom of Romania}}
*[[Royal Romanian Air Force]]
;{{flag|Spanish Republic}}[[File:Potez 25-Spanish Republican AF.jpg|thumb|Potez 25 of the Spanish Republican Air Force]]
*[[Spanish Republican Air Force]]
;{{CHE}}
*[[Swiss Air Force]]
;{{URS}}
*[[Soviet Air Force]] – Two aircraft used for tests and trials.<ref>Kotelnikov, Kulikov & Cony 2001, pp. 54–55</ref>
;{{TUR}}
*[[Turkish Air Force]]
;{{flag|Uruguay}}
*[[Uruguayan Air Force]]
;{{flag|Kingdom of Yugoslavia}}
*[[Yugoslav Royal Air Force]] operated 200 aircraft manufactured in Yugoslavia.

===Civil operators===
;{{FRA}}
*[[Aéropostale (aviation)|Aéropostale]]
*Caudron Flying School
*Compagnie Francaise d'Aviation
*Hanriot Airline and Hanriot Flying School

==Specifications (Potez 25)==
[[File:Potez_25_A.2_3-view_Aero_Digest_September,1930.png|alt=|thumb|Potez 25 A.2 3-view drawing from Aero Digest September,1930]]

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Aviafrance : Potez 25<ref name="AvFrpotez25">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=Potez 25 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=8965&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=1057&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |access-date=23 December 2019 |language=fr |date=3 December 2000}}</ref>
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=2
|length m=9.14
|length note=
|span m=14.14
|span note=
|height m=3.67
|height note=
|wing area sqm=46.46
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=<!--'''root:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA ]]; '''tip:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA ]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>-->
|empty weight kg=1370
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=2494
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Gnome & Rhône 9Ac]]
|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 hp=320
|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=230
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|more performance=<!--<br />
*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt|m|0}}
*'''Take-off distance to {{cvt|15|m|0}}:''' {{cvt|m|0}}
*'''Landing run:''' {{cvt|m|0}}
*'''Landing distance from {{cvt|15|m|0}}:''' {{cvt|m|0}}-->
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns= 2x {{cvt|7.7|mm|3}} [[Vickers machine gun]], with 1x  {{cvt|7.7|mm|3}} [[Lewis gun]]s flexibly mounted in the rear cockpit
|bombs= {{cvt|200|kg|0}} of bombs
}}

==See also==
*[[Aerial operations in the Chaco War]]
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
* [[List of interwar military aircraft]]
* [[List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air Force]]
* [[List of aircraft of World War II]]
* [[List of military aircraft of Finland]]
* [[List of military aircraft of France]] 
|see also=
}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite book|last1=Andersson|first1=Leonart|title=A history of Chinese aviation:encyclopedia of aircraft and aviation in China until 1949|date=2008 |publisher=AHS of ROC|location=Taipei|isbn=978-9572853337}}
*{{cite magazine |last=Benichou |first =Michel |title=Potez 25 (2): la prolifique famille du biplan vainqueur des Andes faisait les beaux jours de notre armée de l'Air |magazine=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=September 1979 |issue=118|pages=48–52 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr |trans-title=Potez 25, Part 2: The Prolific Family of the Biplane Vanquisher of the Andes was the Heyday of our Air Force}}
*{{cite book|last=Cortet|first=Pierre|title=Le Potez 25|publisher=Lela Presse|location=Boulogne sur Mer|date=1996|language=fr|isbn=978-2950948502}}
* Gerdessen, Frederik. "Estonian Air Power 1918 – 1945". ''[[Air Enthusiast]]'', No. 18, April – July 1982. pp.&nbsp;61–76. {{ISSN|0143-5450}}.
*{{cite book|last=Heinonen|first=Timo|title=Thulinista Hornetiin – 75 vuotta Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneita|publisher= Tikkakoski: Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseo|language=fi|year=1992|isbn=951-9568824}}
*{{cite magazine |last=Joux|first=Joseph de |title=Potez 25 sur les Andes (1)|magazine=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=August 1979 |issue=117|pages=46–51 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr|trans-title=The Potez 25 over the Andes, Part 1}}
*{{cite magazine|last1=Kotelnikov|first1=V.|last2=Kulikov|first2=V.|last3=Cony|first3=C.|name-list-style=amp |title=Les avions français en URSS, 1921–1941 |magazine=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=December 2001 |issue=105 |pages=50–56 |trans-title=French Aircraft in the USSR, 1921–1941 |language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Morareau |first=Lucien |title=Les Potez 25 de la Marine |magazine=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=December 1991 |issue=265 |pages=18–23 |language=fr}}
*{{cite magazine|last1=Niccoli|first1=Riccardo|title=Atlantic Sentinels: The Portuguese Air Force Since 1912|magazine=Air Enthusiast |number=73|date=January–February 1998|pages=20–35|issn=0143-5450}}
*{{cite magazine|last=Young|first=Edward M.|title=France's Forgotten Air War|magazine=Air Enthusiast|date=1984|issue=25 |pages=22–33 |issn=0143-5450}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

{{Potez aircraft}}
{{IAR aircraft}}

[[Category:1920s French military reconnaissance aircraft]]
[[Category:1920s French bomber aircraft]]
[[Category:Potez aircraft|025]]
[[Category:Sesquiplanes]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1924]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]