The Potez 58 was a family of French light utility and touring aircraft, developed in mid-1930s. They were three-seat single-engine high-wing

monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...

Design and development

The plane was a further development of

Potez 43 The Potez 43 was a family of French light utility and sports aircraft, developed in early 1930s. They were three-seat single-engine high-wing monoplanes. Design and development The plane was a development of Potez 36. First of all it featured n ...

family, tracing its roots from

Potez 36 The Potez 36 was a French two-seat touring or sport monoplane designed and built by Potez. The Potez 36 was a high-wing braced monoplane with a conventional landing gear. It had an enclosed cabin with side-by-side seating for a pilot and passenger ...

. An airframe changed little from Potez 43, main difference were stronger engines. A prototype Potez 58 first flew on 7 March 1934. In September 1934 the first serial variant Potez 580 was flown, powered with 120 hp radial engine Potez 6B. There were built 80 of this variant. An air ambulance variant was also evaluated. There were next built several small-series variants, differing with the last digit in designation. The second variant built in a significant series was Potez 585 – 108 built. Mixed construction strutted high-wing

. Rectangular two-spar wing, with rounded ends, supported with V-shaped spars. Wings were equipped with

slats Super Low Altitude Test Satellite (SLATS) or Tsubame was a JAXA satellite intended to demonstrate operations in very low Earth orbit (VLEO, below 200 km), using ion engines to counteract aerodynamic drag from the Earth's atmosphere which i ...

on 1/3 span. Closed cabin with three seats. Radial engine in front, with a Townend ring, two-blade propeller. Conventional fixed

landing gear Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft that is used for takeoff or landing. For aircraft it is generally needed for both. It was also formerly called ''alighting gear'' by some manufacturers, such as the Glenn L. Martin ...

, with a rear skid, wheels in teardrop covers.

Operational history

French Air Force operated 99 Potez 585 as liaison aircraft.

Variants

;Potez 58 :Prototype. ;Potez 580 :First series variant of 1934, Potez 6B engine; 80 built. ;Potez 582 ;Potez 584 :Variant with de Havilland Gipsy Major I straight engine; 4 built in 1935. ;Potez 585 :Liaison and utility aircraft, Potez 6Ba engine; 108 built. ;Potez 586 :Four-seater variant; 10 built in 1936–1937.

Operators

; *

French Air Force The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Army; ...

; *

Spanish Republican Air Force The Spanish Republican Air Force was the air arm of the Armed Forces of the Second Spanish Republic, the legally established government of Spain between 1931 and 1939. Initially divided into two branches: Military Aeronautics ('' Aeronáutica M ...

Specifications (Potez 585)

Potez_58_3-view_L'Aerophile_February_1938

References

Bibliography

External links

Photo at Ugolok Neba page
at Aviatsya (in Russian)
Potez
at Aviafrance {{Potez aircraft 1930s French civil utility aircraft

058 58 may refer to: * 58 (number) * one of the years 58 BC, AD 58, 1958, 2058 * 58 (band), an American rock band * 58 (golf), a round of 58 in golf * "Fifty Eight", a song by Karma to Burn from the album ''Arch Stanton ''Arch Stanton'' is the sixth ...

High-wing aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1934