Henry Potez , who began his career as aircraft constructor in 1916 with the Eclair propeller, designed over 100 prototypes and built over 7000 aircraft, including the POTEZ 25, 39, 54, 62 and 63. During the period between the two world wars, he was France’s leading aeronautical manufacturer.
In 1924, in his home town of Méaulte, Henry Potez built an industrial aeronautical complex – From the end of the 1920’s up to the nationalisations of 1936, the HENRY POTEZ AEROPLANES Company became the world’s largest and most modern plant in aeronautics.
In 1958 The AIR FOUGA Company in Aire-sur-l’Adour was taken over by the HENRY POTEZ Group which continued to manufacture into 1980’s the components of the Fouga Magister up to final assembly which was carried out at the Blagnac facility.
Following the death of Henry Potez in 1981, his grandson, Roland Potez, took over the company and continues to manage it today.
Potez 25
The Potez 25, a legendary aircraft with which Henry Guillaumet flew over the Andes, is without a doubt the best known airplane during the period between the two world wars. Launched in 1924, its production totalled close on 4000 aircraft and flew under more than 20 different national flags.
Potez 53
The Potez 53, specially designed for the Deutsch Cup of the Meurthe in 1933 that was won by Georges Détré with an outstanding performance of 2000 km flown in 6h11’45 at an average speed of 322.81 km/h, was a low wing monoplane with a radial engine, equipped with manually retractable landing gear.
Fouga Magister
The Fouga Magister, the pride of the region, was produced in 1952 in the current Potez 25 building in Aire-sur-l’Adour. A training jet with a characteristic butterfly tail unit, it met with outstanding international success and flew for 22 different flags and most notably with the colours of the French air demonstration team from 1964 to 1980.
Roland Potez
Henry Potez