The Gigant was built by engineers A.Kovanko and A.Shabskogo at the Russo-Baltic Wagon Works, Salizi, south-east of St.Petersburg, between 1912 and 1915. It was of 724,060 cu.ft capacity, measuring 374 ft long with a 56 ft diameter, giving a gross lift of 21 tons and a useful lift of 8.8 tons. As originally designed, power was four 215 hp Austro-Daimler eight-cylinder petrol engines, later reduced to two such units mounted in streamlined nacelles positioned amidships above the keel.
On the first flight, in February 1915, shortly after take-off at low altitude, the airship dipped in the middle, causing the propeller to cut one of the cable braces. The airship, breaking in half, fell to the ground. The crew was not injured.
The cause of the accident was because of the loads imposed by rearranging the engine cars.
The airship was rebuilt, but due to the lack of hydrogen, it was not filled and was scrapped in late 1916.
Engines: 4 x 212 hp
Volume: 20,500 cu.m
Length: 114 m
Diameter: 17 m
Max speed: 58 km / h
All Aero 