Founded in 1910, Armand Deperdussin’s aviation company enjoyed rapid success thanks to its engineer Louis Béchereau, who designed all the brand’s aircraft. At the time, the Deperdussin monohull stood out from its biplane competitors. With a fuselage stiffened by a plywood hull and not by the frame, the aircraft had an aerodynamic line that allowed it to achieve performances unknown until then. From 1912, the Deperdussin exceeded 124.3 mph (200 km/h) and won several speed records (Gordon Bennett Cup, Schneider Cup). A seaplane version was also produced, with two floats plus a third replacing the tail stand.