The Latecoere 631 F-BDRA seen through the camera lenses of Charles Simms (The Aeroplane), John Yoxall (Flight) and Charles E. Brown during its visit to the Solent in July 1947. Rather ingeniously the wing floats retracted into the outer engine nacelles to become an integral part of the nacelle streamlining. Noise level in the passenger cabins was acceptable but was unpleasantly high in the lounge, opposite the engines.

A view of Southampton Docks from a lounge window.

The 631 takes off from the Solent as the Isle of Wight steam packet paddles leisurely past in the other direction.