This MedLibrary.org supplementary page on Zodiac Group is provided directly from the open source Wikipedia as a service to our readers. Please see the note below on authorship of this content, as well as the Wikipedia usage guidelines. To search for other content from our encyclopedia supplement, please use the form below:
Related Sponsors
The Zodiac Group is a French corporation with worldwide presence, specialized in the production and development of aerosafety systems, aircraft systems, airline equipment, airbags, remote transmissions, boats and swimming pools, however they are best known for their widely used small inflatable boats. The company is a blue chip stock, listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange.
Founded in 1896 by Maurice Mallet under the name of Société Mallet, Mélandri et de Pitray, it was an aeronautical firm developing airships. 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 for strategic bombing. Therefore, Zodiac created an airplane manufacturing unit wholly separate from its balloon operations. By 1916, the company was delivering two airplanes per week.
Contents |
Zodiac Boat
In the 1930s they invented the concept of the inflatable boat, the commercial success of which after World 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 Northern California uses Zodiac inflatable craft in the ocean rescue of injured or malnourished marine mammals. The Zodiac inflatable boats are also commonly used by the United States Navy.
The word "zodiac" is sometimes used as a genericized trademark for any rigid-hulled inflatable boat.
 |
Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (June 2008) |
See also
External links
References
- Ventry, Lord & Kolesnik, Eugen M., "Airship Saga," Poole, Dorset, Britain, Blanford Press, 1982, ISBN 0-07137-1001-2
 This article about an aeronautical corporation or company is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 30 October 2008, at 16:05.
Wikipedia Authorship and Review
Wikipedia content provided here is not reviewed directly by MedLibrary.org. Wikipedia content is authored by an open community of volunteers and is not produced by or in any way affiliated with MedLibrary.org.
Wikipedia Usage Guidelines
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on "Zodiac Group".
The URL for this specific entry is:
All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.