Genève | Quai du Mont-Blanc

800 CHF
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Title   Genève | Quai du Mont Blanc | Latécoère 631
Artist   Robert Topulos
Limited Edition   50 pieces 
Collection    Latécoère Foundation Art Collection

 

Geneva, on the 12th June 1948, a Latécoère 631 is about to land on the ''lac Léman''. This gigantic french seaplane is the last one to be used on a commercial transatlantic line. 

With 54 passengers on board, the Laté had a maximum speed of 417km/h and an autonomy of 6000km. The seaplane stayed 3 days in Geneva before being assigned to the liaison with the West Indies (Antilles) on a 26 hours flight. After a stopover of four hours necessary for refueling 32'000 liters of gasoline, the aircraft began its transoceanic flight of 4'700 km to Antilles. Most often, it hardly flew above 2'500 meters and its operating speed varied between 280 and 300 km/h.

Given the time difference, the arrival at destination took place in the early morning two days after the day of departure. Air France understood that with such flight times this aircraft could only compete with liners by offering passengers a certain comfort and luxury. A round trip costed 117'000 french francs (at the time) an equivalent of 6'000 CHF today.

The aircraft had forty-four leather seats convertible at night into beds with sheets and blankets, divided into cabins of two or four passengers each separated by curtains, a majority of them with sinks. It also included a luxurious bar, unfortunately located next to the propellers in the maximum noise zone.

The artwork is part of the official collection of the Latécoère Foundation.

 

 

 SPECIFICATIONS

 

Printing technique   Étorie on fine art paper
Printing house   Atelier WOCS, Genève
Authentification   Certificate of authenticity

 

 


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