On this day in aviation history, 93 years ago (April 26, 1933), the Potez 53 flew for the first time. The Potez 53 was a French racing aircraft that was purpose-built by Potez for the 1933 Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe race. Potez’s 53 ultimately won the race outright, proving the success of the design. Development of the Potez 53 racer began centered around the company’s 310-horsepower 9B air-cooled radial engine, which drove a two-bladed fixed-pitch propeller. Potez designed the 9B engine just as with the Model 53, with the specific focus being on the 1933 race. The Potez 53’s structure was primarily wood, as was the aircraft’s covering. Potez designed the 53 with retractable landing gear, which retracted outwards into the undersides of the wings. The tailskid was fixed, however. Potez built two Model 53s, and both were entered for the 1933 Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe. The first Model 53, Race #10, was flown by Georges Détré. He won first place, navigating the 1,200-mile closed-circuit course with an average speed of 201 mph. The other Potez, Race #2, was flown by Gustave Lemoine, who conceded after completing the fourth lap.
Following the success of the Model 53 at the 1933 races, Potez opted to further develop the aircraft. A new racer, designated the Potez 533 (or 53-3), was created with eyes on the 1934 race. Various modifications were made to the aircraft to help it attain the next echelon of performance, including an engine uprated to 350 horsepower and a Ratier variable-pitch propeller. Additionally, the 533’s fuselage was slimmed down into a more streamlined shape. The wings were redesigned to have increased surface area. Potez also modified one of the earlier Model 53 racers as the Model 532, which would serve as a backup in the 1934 races. The Potez 533 and 532 were flown in the 1934 Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe race by the same pilot as the year before. Unfortunately, this year, neither aircraft would finish the race. Both aircraft suffered mechanical issues in the midst of the competition and were forced to land. The original Potez 53 that claimed victory at the 1933 race survives and is on display at the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace in Paris, France.
