The French R.2 specification of 1928 called for an all-metal, two seat reconnaissance aircraft, fast and with a rapid climb rate and large radius of action.

It led to prototypes from eight manufacturers, the Amiot 130, Breguet 33, Latécoère 490, Les Mureaux 111, Nieuport-Delage Ni-D 580, Potez 37, Wibault 260 and the Weymann WEL-80 R.2.

The wings were similar in plan, rectangular out to angled, blunted tips, though with differently shaped cut-outs for better upward and downward views from the cockpit.

Behind the engine, which had a metal cowling, the outer fuselage form was set by wooden frames and stringers, then covered in fabric.

At the rear the empennage was conventional, with a narrow chord, rectangular tailplane mounting broader, blunt ended, balanced, separate elevators.

Weymann argued that construction in wood was simpler, cheaper and more familiar to workers from the civil aircraft industry and did not degrade performance.