During this time, the prototype Amiot 122 was used as a long-distance sports aircraft, carrying out a 10,800 km tour around the Mediterranean Sea.
The only series-built variant was Amiot 122 BP3 medium bomber, the majority being acquired by the French Air Force.
The Amiot 123 was a long-distance variant that achieved record-breaking performance during the late 1920s; it was this model that was purchased by the Polish Air Force, seeking to conduct its first westbound transatlantic flight.
The aircraft was designed from the onset to be operated a medium-sized single-engine biplane bomber; while otherwise conforming to the prevailing conventions of the era, it made use of metal construction.
[1] The first of the series was Amiot 120 BN2, a twin-seat prototype bomber, which was powered with a Renault 12Ma 580 hp inline engine (registration F-AHCR).
In terms of its configuration, it was a largely conventional aircraft, although its construction made use of a relatively high level of metal amongst its contemporaries.
All structural elements were designed to withstand excessive loading, having been calculated with a high safety factor.
[3] A crew of three (typically comprising a pilot, gunner, and bombardier) were seated in tandem in open cockpits.
To permit ground crew to more easily service the engine, the hood contained a total of six removable panels that could be quickly replaced if damaged.
[7] The Amiot 120 was a fairly manoeuvrable aircraft for a bomber, being relatively rapid and precise while also reportedly easy to manage across all altitudes.
[6] It was provisioned with quite smooth flight controls, which permitted the pilot fly long-range missions even through inhospitable weather conditions without becoming overly fatigued.
[7] The use of large tail surfaces allowed for effective control to be maintained even below the aircraft's documented minimum flight speed, which facilitated short landings as well as being particularly beneficial when approaching stall conditions.
They commenced their first trial of a transatlantic flight on 3 August 1928, taking off at 4:45 a.m. from Paris Le Bourget airfield.
After 31 hours of flight, when the oil in engine had depleted, Idzikowski decided to land on water, by the German merchant ship Samos, about 70 km away from the Spanish coast.
However, because of more irregular engine work, at 9 p.m. (7 p.m. local time), Idzikowski decided to make an emergency landing on a closer rocky island Graciosa.
[citation needed] Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928,[9] Aviafrance: Avimeta 132[10]General characteristics Performance Armament