The Société Zodiac company, and its predecessor company Mallet, Mélandri et de Pitray, were a manufacturer of non-rigid airships and one rigid airship in the early 1900s and during World War I. The companies were co-founded by Maurice Mallet and Henry de La Vaulx in 1896. During World War I, the company specialized in producing small airships that could be easily deflated, compacted and transported via horse carts. The company also manufactured war planes. After the war the company shifted from airships and airplanes to producing a popular line of inflatable boats for military and civil markets, and aerospace production.
Pre-World War I airships (1906-1913) Source: D'Orcy's Airship Manual Works No.NameTrialsLength (m)Beam (m)Volume (m3)Power (h.p.)Speed (km)NotesImages1Comte de la VaulxJune 190632.56.47301425Experimental craft. Named after company co-founder Count Henri de la Vaulx. Rebuilt as Zodiac II in 1908. 2Petit-JournalApril 190930,07.07001626Advertising blimp for the La Petit-Journal. Rebuilt as Zodiac I in 1908. 3Petit-Journal II190932.37.29004530Advertising blimp for the La Petit-Journal4ZodiacOctober 190940.88.514004545Built for French Army5DavisJuly 31, 191040.88.514003035Built for Stuart Davis of The Zodiac Dirigible Airship Company, New York City. 6Zodiac II191040.88.514003035Built for Belgian Army6aZodiac III191342.58.517005040Built for Belgian Army 7DuindigtMay 191134.96.89153043Built for Dutch Army8TchaikaNovember 191048.010.021406040Built for Russian Army9KorchouneDecember 191048.010.021406040Built for Russian Army10Le TempsMarch 191150.39.0230011050Built for French Army11Capitaine FerberDecember 191176.012.4600022056Built for French Army12Commandant CoutelleApril 191392.014.0950040062Built for French Army13SpiessMay 1913113.013.51280020050Only rigid airship built by Zodiac Society. Named after its engineer Joseph Spiess. Design was originally patented in 1873 but not built due to lack of funding. Offered to French Army, but failed its trials.13aSpiessDecember 1913140.013.51640040070Rebuilt to meet French Army standards, but was again rejected as too small.141913130.015.023000100080Built for French Army151913130.015.023000100080Built for French Army161913130.015.023000100080Built for Russian Army
See also French blimps operated by the USN
References
External links
Zodiac Aerospace company website (English)
fr:Zodiac Marine and Pool#Histoire