 During the early 1930s, French aircraft manufacturer Groupe Latécoère set about designing a new large flying boat, which was intended to perform long range flights, carrying both passengers and air mail alike.Around this era, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States, were endeavouring to launch ever-larger aircraft that would exceed the scale and payload capabilities of preceding aircraft and ultimately displace the ocean liner as the principal means of passenger travel.The development of such aircraft was a matter of national prestige and Latécoère quickly found support for their endeavour.