Conservation and restoration at the Musée de l'Hydraviation in Biscarrosse

Conservation & Restoration

Conservation and restoration: honoring the seaplane aviation’s history

After the construction of the Latécoère assembly and flight-test base in 1930, followed by Les Hourtiquets seaplane base in the late 1930s, forming a real gateway to the Atlantic, Biscarrosse was the natural choice for the creation of a seaplane museum unlike any other in all of Europe. 

 

Safeguarding our unique heritage

 

The museum set itself the task of retracing the history of seaplanes around the world, from the very first innovators on their strange machines to the latest models of the present day.

 

To do this, it gathered collections of:

 

  • Archives
  • Photographic documentation
  • Old maps
  • Autographs
  • First editions
  • Flight suits
  • Decorations
  • Uniforms
  • Logbooks
  • Flight logs
  • Famous pilots’ personal keepsakes
  • Spare parts
  • Engines
  • Propellers
  • Model seaplanes (some of them very old)
  • Interior decorations
  • Original paintings and reproductions
  • Posters
  • Contemporary advertising documents from the period
  • Etc. 

 

This historical presentation occupies 13,500 sq.ft. (1,250 m²) of floor space in buildings that, in some cases, date back to the site’s early days when they housed workers from Les Hourtiquets seaplane base.

 

Intact seaplanes are extremely rare nowadays. Weather and marine corrosion have taken their toll. Aside from a few flying boats restored by enthusiasts, the seaplanes that have been salvaged are all in museums today.

 

So, why not in ours? In the main exhibition hall, spanning more than 5,000 sq.ft. (480 m²), seaplanes from 1912 through the 1980s, either restored or undergoing restoration, are on display.

Pictures of our salvage and conservation work

Dornier DO-X

Dornier DO-X

Collection Musée de l'Hydraviation - Origine PERILLAT

Henri Fabre

Henri Fabre

Collection Musée de l'Hydraviation - Origine PERILLAT

Combinaison Latécoère

Combinaison Latécoère

Collection Musée de l'Hydraviation - Origine PERILLAT

Moteur Hispano Suiza

Moteur Hispano Suiza

Collection Musée de l'Hydraviation - Origine PERILLAT

1re Guerre Mondiale

1re Guerre Mondiale

Collection Musée de l'Hydraviation - Origine PERILLAT

L'Aéropostale

L'Aéropostale

Collection Musée de l'Hydraviation - Origine PERILLAT

Carnet de vol

Carnet de vol

Collection Musée de l'Hydraviation - Origine PERILLAT

Documentation

Documentation

Collection Musée de l'Hydraviation - Origine PERILLAT

Biscarrosse Fort-de-France

Biscarrosse Fort-de-France

Collection Musée de l'Hydraviation - Origine PERILLAT

Moteur Pratt-Witney

Moteur Pratt-Witney

Collection Musée de l'Hydraviation - Origine PERILLAT

Maquette de l'Aéronavale Française

Maquette de l'Aéronavale Française

Collection Musée de l'Hydraviation - Origine PERILLAT

 

The museum is committed to preserving this heritage, along with the production techniques inherent to the industry.

The Museum's Collections
Grumman Albatross Collection  Documentation Center

Musée de l’Hydraviation
Musée de l’Hydraviation

Contact us

Seaplane Museum
332, rue Louis Breguet
40600 Biscarrosse
05 58 78 00 65
Opening HoursJanuary : closed all month
September - June : Tuesday to Sunday
from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. | closed Mondays
July - August: 7 days a week
from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Public holidays: contact us
Contact us

Informations

Partnerships

  • Ville de Biscarrosse
  • Association des Amis du Musée
  • Département des Landes
  • Bisca Grands Lacs
  • Qualité Tourisme
  • Nouvelle Aquitaine
  • MGEN
  • Un comité pour moi
  • Ministère de la Culture
  • Musée de France
  • CEZAM
All our partners