It was powered by a 70 hp 4-cylinder Argus engine driving a single propeller at the front of the nacelle via a 5:1 reduction gearbox.

The flight was marred by problems with the engine, and after crossing the Forest of Saint-Germain the airship was landed at Chambourcy after 1  20 m in the air, after which it was deflated and returned by road to Sartrouville.

The reconstructed airship was inflated in June 1907 and after a series of tethered trials made its first free flight on 9 August, a short circuit returning to Sartrouville.

Several similar successful short flights followed, on the seventh of which Deutsch de la Meurthe was carried as a passenger.

[7] On 15 January 1908, as usual piloted by Kapferer with Paulhan as mechanic, it was flown from Sartrouville to the French Army establishment at Verdun, a distance of 260 km (160 mi).

The airship was brought down at the military maneuvering ground at Jardin-Fontaine 6 km (3.7 mi) from its base and had to be walked back to the flying field at Verdun.