A white elephant it was, but the 40-tonne Laté 521 did manage route proving flights to New York, without carrying paying passengers. Named after naval lieutenant Paulin Paris, the sole 521 was photographed over Long Island by Rudy Arnold, arriving from Biscarosse via Lisbon and Horta, Azores. The original design had four engines in tandem pairs but two outboard engines had to be added. One Laté 522 and three Laté 523 versions were also built. The five flying boats were all impressed by the French navy in 1939. None survived WWII. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution