The "Weißen Adler" ("White Eagle") airship was built in Dresden by Georg Baumgarten in 1879. Baumgarten became acquainted with the wealthy Leipzig bookseller Dr. Friedrich Hermann Wölfert, who liked him for his experiments in airships. Together they built the 26 meters long airship, which had three gondolas and had propellers driven by hand cranks. Their first airship, the "Dreigondelluftschiff" rose on 31 January 1880, the first time in Leipzig-Plagwitz. However, the flight ended with an accident, but with no injuries, but the airship was destroyed.