It was constructed by the brothers Armand and Henri Dufaux who had previously experimented with a model helicopter.
Based on what they had learned from their helicopter, the Dufaux brothers hoped to generate vertical as well as horizontal thrust from their engine installation, and conceived of an aircraft where the engine and propeller would be mounted at the centre of the airframe and would be able to pivot 180° to provide forward, upward, and even backward thrust (the latter to assist in braking).
Experiments with a boxkite fitted with an engine in 1905 proved promising, so construction of a full-scale aircraft proceeded.
Eventually, they settled on a cavalry training field at Bière, 70 km (43 mi) from their workshop in Geneva.
In August, it was badly damaged when it toppled sideways while taxiing, and although repaired, the Dufaux brothers abandoned the project at the end of the month.