Designed by Louis Coroller, the Potez 56 was a cantilever low-wing monoplane of mainly wood construction. It had a single fin and rudder and was powered by two Potez 9Ab radial engines. It had a retractable conventional landing gear, and room for a crew of two and six passengers. The prototype first flew on 18 June 1934, and production commenced for the civil market. The military soon became interested in the aircraft and ordered versions for twin-engined training, liaison duties and as a target tug. The most unusual version was the Potez 565, modified with an arrester hook for use on the aircraft carrier Béarn.
Operators
Chile
LAN Chile
France
French Air Force
French Navy
Potez Aéro Service
Régie Air Afrique
Romania
LARES (Liniile Aeriene Române Exploatate de Stat)
SARTA (Societatea Anonimă Română de Transporturi Aeriene
Spain
Spanish Republican Air Force, from LAPE
Variants
Potez 56
Prototype, one built.
Potez 56E
A single prototype of a 3-seat shipboard reconnaissance aircraft, powered by 2x 185 hp (138 kW) Potez 9Ab radial engines
Potez 560
Civil production aircraft, 16 built.
Potez 561
Modified version with improved performance, 3 built.
Potez 565
One aircraft with streamlined fuselage and fitted with arrester hook for aircraft carrier use.
Potez 566
Military version fitted with a manual-operated dorsal turret and a ventral nacelle for an observer, three built, also known as the Potez 566 T.3.
Potez 567
Naval version for use as a target tug, 22 built.
Potez 568
French Air Force crew-training version, 26 built, also known as the Potez 568 P.3.
