Le système de mise à l'eau des hydravions Laté 631 à Biscarrosse

Il ne subsiste pas grand-chose de l'hydrobase des Hourtiquets. L'immense treuil qui servait à hisser ou mettre à l'eau les Latécoère 631, ainsi qu'une maquette montrant le dispositif de mise à l'eau via le slip (rampe d'accès) sont maintenant visible au musée de l'hydraviation, sur le site de l'ancienne base de montage et d’essais en vol de la société Latécoère.

Principe de mise a l'eau sur slip.

Treuil servant à hisser les Laté 631 sur le slip.

Le F-BDRA halé par "le personnel ouvrier", sur le slip aux Hourtiquets.

F-BDRA sur le slip.

Principe de mise a l'eau sur slip.

New French air giant 'Latecoere 631' - Townsville Daily Bulletin - 25 July 1947

The new French flying boat 'Latecoere 631' arrived at Hythe. Hampshire, England, last week on a demonstration flight. This giant of the air has a remarkable history. The building was begun in 1938, and was almost ready when the Germans invaded France in 1940. The craft was dismantled and parts hidden all over the country, until after the liberation, when it was reassembled. The six-engined Latecoere is the biggest flying boat yet built In Europe. It has a wing span of 188 feet, is 142 feet in length and is 94 feet in height.

Huge flying boat which France hid from nazis - The Advertiser - 22 July 1947

A huge French flying boat, the Latecoere 631 six-engined machine which is the biggest yet built in Europe, has a remarkable history. Its construction was begun in 1938, and almost when the Germans invaded France It was hurriedly dismantled and parts dispersed and hidden until after the liberation. It will be used in a French Transatlantic and is shown above landing at Hythe, England, during a visit last week.

F-BDRA - Les Hourtiquets