David Schwarz (aviation Inventor) - in Russia and The First Airship

In Russia and The First Airship

David Schwarz worked out the construction of his all-metal airship. He then offered his documents to the Austria-Hungary war minister. Great interest was shown, but no one was ready to provide financial support.

The Russian military attaché, a technically educated man, advised Schwarz to demonstrate his airship in St. Petersburg. There, an airship following Schwarz's idea was built in 1893. Schwarz and later also his widow assumed that test flights would also be made there, but this did not happen. He began construction late 1892, with industrialist Carl Berg supplying the aluminium and necessary funding. Sources report problems arose during gas-filling. George Whale wrote that on "inflation, the framework collapsed". Dooley cites Robinson's detailed dimensions, weights and engine performance, and reports several deficiencies in the design: Schwarz apparently intended the metal skin to hold the gas directly without gas bags; Russian engineer Kowanko pointed out the lack of a ballonet would cause stresses on the skin during ascent and descent; the skin was not airtight; temporary "filling bags" were also not airtight, Schwarz and the manufacturer both blaming each other; and finally the skin imploded after filling directly and waiting.

The specifications of this first airship were:

• gas volume: 3,280 cubic metres (116,000 cu ft)
• empty weight: 2525 kg
• gross lift: 958 kg
• power: four cylinder engine weighing 298 kg, 10 horsepower (7.5 kW) at 480 rpm
• ballast and fuel: 170 kg
• equipment and three people: 385 kg
• net lift: 85 kg

The circumstances of Schwarz's return is unclear, reports were of a hasty departure from Russia.