Zodiac

  The Societe Zodiac developed in 1911 from the firm begun by the painter Maurice Mallet to build dirigibles; the Comte de la Vaulx was named technical director. This firm built some 63 dirigibles with no fatal accidents, and later, at least 3 different aircraft:

  1. In 1910: a Bleriot-like monoplane built for the Prince de Nissole, named L'Albatros, with a double pair of wheels and skids on an elaborate undercarriage structure. The horizontal tail was set below the rear of the fuselage, with a trapezoidal rudder at the far tip.