Potez 39 (Reconnaissance aircraft)

The Potez 39 was a twin-seat single-engined parasol wing monoplane aerial reconnaissance and observation aircraft designed and produced by the French aircraft manufacturer Potez. It was the company's first all-metal aircraft. It was developed in response to a specification released in 1928 for a new reconnaissance aircraft to succeed the Potez 25 and Breguet 19. The design team performed a detailed study of both mixed-construction and metal-centric aircraft prior to designing the all-metal Potez 39; numerous prototype and derivative aircraft were conceived of by Potez, including that of a floatplane, however, besides the French Air Force, only Peru would opt to order the type. The new aircraft, which performed its maiden flight in January 1930, came as the runner up to the Breguet 27, but was still selected for production. While the Potez 39 was still in service with seven observation squadrons at the outbreak of the Second World War, the French Air Force elected to rapidly withdraw the type from frontline service and instead use it as a trainer aircraft up until the armistice of June 1940, after which point the remaining aircraft were scrapped.