France Reconnaissance

Type: Potez 390A two seat observation aircraft.

Max Speed: 178 mph at 16,405 ft.

Climb Rate: 11,480 ft in 7 minutes 0 second.

Service Ceiling: 22,965 ft.

Range: 472 miles.

Armament: one or two 0.295 in 7.5 mm fixed machine guns and three 0.303 in 7.7 mm trainable machine guns, and up to 265 lb
of bombs.

Photo: S. H. A. A.

Despite its all metal structure, the Potez 39 was more akin in concept to the machines of the First World War than to those of the fast approaching Second World War.

Type: Bloch MB.174A.3 three seat reconnaissance and light bombing aircraft.

Max Speed: 329 mph at 17,060 ft.

Climb Rate: 26,250 in 11 minutes 0 seconds.

Service Ceiling: 36,090 ft.

Range: 1,025 miles.

Armament: seven 7.5 mm 0.295 in machine guns (two fixed in nose and the other five in dorsal and ventral position) and up to 1,102 lb of bombs.

Photo: S. H. A. A.

The MB.174 appeared to late to aid France significantly in the disastrous 1940 campaign against Germany, but revealed considerable potential.

Type: Caudron Cau.4B.2 two seat light bomber / observation.

Max Speed: 82 mph at sea level.

Climb Rate:

Service Ceiling:

Range: endurance 3 hour 30 minutes.

Armament: one or two 0.303 in 7.7 mm machine guns on a trainable mounting, and up to 220 lb of bombs.

Photo: S. H. A. A.

Operating in the light bomber and observation roles, the Cau.4 was one of France's most important war planes in the first half of 1916.

Type: Potez XVA.2 two seat observation and reconnaissance aircraft.

Max Speed: 126 mph at optimum altitude.

Climb Rate:

Service Ceiling:

Range: endurance 3 hours 0 minutes.

Armament: one fixed and two trainable 0.303 in 7.7 machine
guns

Photo: S. H. A. A.

The Potez XV was the precursor of the more celebrated potez 25. A good aircraft in its own right it secured useful commercial success.

Type: SPAD S.11 two seat observation aircraft and light
bomber.

Max Speed: 109 mph at 6,560 ft.

Climb Rate:

Service Ceiling:

Range: endurance 2 hours 15 minutes.

Armament: two or three 0.303 in 7.7 mm machine guns, one
fixed and and one trainable, and a light bomb load.

Photo: S. H. A. A.

Type: Breguet Bre. 14A.2 two seat reconnaissance aircraft.

Max Speed: 114 mph at 6,560 ft.

Climb Rate: 9,845 ft in 12 minutes 10 seconds.

Service Ceiling: 19,685 ft.

Range: endurance 3 hours 0 seconds.

Armament: three 0.303 in 7.7 mm machine guns, one fixed and two trainable, and provision for 88 lb of bombs.

Photo: Robineau

The beautifully completed Bre.14 replica is closer in overall appearance to the Ber. 14T than to the Bre.14A.2 and B.2 models, but is seen in the markings of a celebrated squadron, Escadrille BR 117.