- Zodiac Group
The Zodiac Group is a French corporation with worldwide presence, specialized in the production and development of aerosafety systems,
aircraft systems, airline equipment,airbag s, remote transmissions,boat s andswimming pool s, however they are best known for their widely used smallinflatable boat s. The company is ablue-chip stock, listed on theEuronext Paris stock exchange .Founded in
1896 by Maurice Mallet under the name of Société Mallet, Mélandri et de Pitray, it was anaeronautic al firm developingairship s. In 1909, Mallet changed the name to Société Française de Ballons Dirigeables et d'Aviation Zodiac, as he was keen to establish his firm's presence in all areas of the conquest of the skies.At the beginning of
World War I , Zodiac started to make airships for the French government, but these were shown to be disappointing forstrategic bombing . Therefore, Zodiac created anairplane manufacturing unit wholly separate from its balloon operations. By 1916, the company was delivering two airplanes per week.Zodiac Boat
In the 1930s they invented the concept of the
inflatable boat , the commercial success of which afterWorld War II established the Zodiac brand image. In the early 21st century, Zodiac is working to expand across five business segments: aerosafety systems,aircraft systems,airline equipment, marine systems, and other technology.Zodiac boats became particularly well known during the run of the television series, "The Undersea World of
Jacques Cousteau ," as they were the small craft of choice for excursions away from the Calypso.The
Marine Mammal Center in NorthernCalifornia uses Zodiac inflatable craft in the ocean rescue of injured or malnourished marine mammals. The Zodiac inflatable boats are also commonly used by theUnited States Navy .The word "zodiac" is sometimes used as a
genericized trademark for anyrigid-hulled inflatable boat .ee also
*
Inflatable boat
*Rigid-hulled inflatable boat External links
* [http://www.zodiac.com/ www.Zodiac.com]
References
*Ventry, Lord & Kolesnik, Eugen M., "Airship Saga," Poole, Dorset, Britain, Blanford Press, 1982, ISBN 0-07137-1001-2
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