Potez 840 / 841 / 842 — Four-Engine Turboprop Executive & Regional Transport
Société des Avions et Moteurs Henry Potez · France · 1962–1967
The Potez 840, 841, and 842 series represents one of the most ambitious and technically distinctive French transport aircraft programmes of the 1960s. Developed by Société des Avions et Moteurs Henry Potez, the series was conceived as a pressurised, four-engine turboprop regional and executive transport capable of challenging the Douglas DC-3 replacement market on short-to-medium-range routes. Fewer than ten total airframes were completed before the company was absorbed into Sud Aviation in 1967, making surviving primary-source documentation exceptionally rare.
This archival edition consolidates the known surviving factory documentation across all three variants into a single research collection.
Document Archive — Manifest
- Potez 840 — Turbo-Flight Brochure (US English) · 51 pages · General description, airframe overview, powerplant, systems, equipment, and performance data · Ref. A.R.E. 840-1001
- Potez 840 — Luxury Brochure (French) · 34 pages · Executive cabin configuration, interior fittings, and passenger comfort data
- Potez 840 — Preliminary Brochure (1962, English) · 19 pages · Foreword, programme introduction, general aspect, airframe description, and overall dimensions · Ref. A.R.E. 840-1003
- Potez 840 — Specification Sheet (1963) · 17 pages · Dimensional, structural, and performance data tables
- Potez 841 / 842 — Sales Brochure · 28 pages · Variant descriptions, engine options, configuration data, and performance comparison
Total documents in this archive: 149 pages across 5 primary-source factory publications.
Variant Overview
| Variant | Engine | Power (per engine) | Propeller | Target Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potez 840 | Turbomeca Astazou II | 440 shp (328 kW) | 3-bladed Ratier-Figeac | Initial production · European market |
| Potez 841 | Pratt & Whitney PT6A-6 | 550 shp (417 kW) | 3-bladed, fully feathering | North American corporate sales |
| Potez 842 | Turbomeca Astazou X / XII | 600–640 shp (447–480 kW) | 3-bladed Ratier-Figeac (2.07 m) | Upgraded payload · hot-and-high operations |
Airframe & Design
- Configuration: Cantilever low-wing monoplane · four turboprop engines · circular-section pressurised fuselage · single fin and rudder · adjustable stabiliser · retractable tricycle undercarriage
- Wing: Modified NACA 63-series profile · aspect ratio 10.75:1 · wingspan 19.60 m · wing area 35.0 m² (377 sq ft) · optimised for low profile drag at high-speed cruise
- Fuselage: Circular cross-section semi-monocoque structure · distinctive triangular cabin windows · pressurised and air-conditioned cabin
- Undercarriage: Retractable triangular tricycle arrangement · hydraulic actuation
- Flight Controls: Fully mechanical push-pull rod-actuated surfaces · direct feedback · no hydraulic boost
Cabin Configurations (Potez 840 Standard)
- 24-seat high-density: For distances up to 600 miles at 310 mph with reserves
- 16-seat regional: For distances up to 1,200 miles at 310 mph with reserves
- Executive layout: For distances up to 2,000 miles at 310 mph with reserves
Performance Data (Potez 842 — Type Certification Profile)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Span | 19.60 m (65 ft 7 in) |
| Length | 15.88 m (52 ft 1 in) |
| Height | 5.38 m (17 ft 8 in) |
| Wing area | 35.0 m² |
| Empty weight | 5,430 kg (11,971 lbs) |
| MTOW | 8,900 kg (19,621 lbs) |
| Max speed | 541 km/h (292 kt / 336 mph) |
| Service ceiling | 11,308 m (37,100 ft) |
| Standard fuel capacity | 2,000 L (530 US gal) |
| Max seating | 24 passengers |
Handling & Stability Notes
- Asymmetric thrust: Four small turboprops produce a minimal critical-engine yawing moment — rudder control requirements on engine failure are significantly reduced versus a twin
- Flight controls: Fully mechanical, push-pull rod-actuated — direct, responsive feedback favoured by corporate pilots of the era
- Known incident: Airframe F-BMCY sustained a belly-landing in 1981 attributed to undercarriage mechanical complexity
- Static test airframe: Airframe No. 04 was designated exclusively for ultimate structural load and wing bending tolerance mapping
Programme & Legacy
- Developer: Société des Avions et Moteurs Henry Potez, France
- Programme period: 1962–1967
- Total airframes built: Fewer than 10
- Programme closure: Henry Potez absorbed into Sud Aviation in 1967; type certificate management ceased
- Regulatory status: No active EASA or FAA Airworthiness Directives — no active TC holder
- Surviving documentation: Original factory brochures, type certificate specifications, and structural blueprints held in French museum archives and specialist repositories
This is an archival, static-copy edition fixed at its original publication date. Intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use only. Not approved for active airworthiness maintenance under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13, EASA Part-M, or equivalent international regulations. Operators of active aircraft must use current, revision-controlled publications from the Type Certificate holder or an authorized distributor.
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