From ancient times people have an unbridled desire, freed from earthly gravity, freely fly by the air, reaching stars in an infinite space. The heavenly world, like the immense abyss, attracts and entices. They say who overcame fear, forever fascinated by an unparalleled sense of flight, and “celebration of aeronautics” captures his soul

The idea of ​​using airspace as a means of communication dates back a long time ago, but only when in 1783 the Montgolfo brothers created the balloon and the first bullet flew into the sky, the path of genuine aeronautics was opened. The brave conquered every time a great height: 200 meters, 1000 meters, and soon – 2000 meters or more. In 1785, Frenchman Blanchard made his first flight over the sea – crossed the Strait of La Manche.
The technical properties of the balloons and flight safety are constantly improved, a special ballast for adjusting the rise or fall. In the case of an emergency, they used parachutes – in 1797 he first saved the life of an aeronautical Garner. In order to protect themselves from unexpected troubles at landing, anchor was used.
However, they still did not master the ability to control the balloon, did not achieve independence of movement from the air flow. But only with this condition, aeronautics could get proper significance and become a reliable means of communication.
Europe was captured by aeronautics! France became its recognized homeland, where it made the largest number of flights and found the possibility of their technical improvement.
Significant events were widely covered by the press, rumors of the brothers Mongolfee and a grand invention came to the Ukrainian lands. Here, the first flight of the balloon was carried out in 1792 in Lviv. These were demonstrative performances, in which passengers picked up from the spectators were picked up from the sky. The event was accompanied by a military brass band. The audience was impressed with the action!
Professor of Physics of Lviv University Ignatius Martynovich, captured by the possibility of free flight, devoted his knowledge and life experience to the improvement of the Montgolfier balloon. In 1784, by combining the efforts with the doctor of medicine Anton Hermann (in the past the royal physician), they both built an automatic burner on liquid fuel. This invention was revolutionary and is still used in aeronautics.
In that time Ukraine carried balloon flights in Kamyanets-Podilsky and the town of Chechelny Vinnytsia region.
In Zhytomyr, this happened a hundred years later. In 1895, the balloon from the clearing of the city garden “Hermitage” rose greatly, demonstrated by the brothers Josef and Stanislav Drevnitsky, known at that time by the balloonists. City posters and posters bright leaflets reported: “Today, for the first time in Zhytomyr, Vyacheslav Shidelkevich’s airship will take place.”
About Vyacheslav Shydelkevych little is known. His roots came from Volhynia, he studied at a gymnasium in Warsaw, served in the army, briefly worked as an official and accountant, and in search of a better life forcedly went abroad. In Berlin in 1887, for the first time he saw the performance of the famous American aeronautic Charles Lerou. I was impressed, met! The meeting with Lerou changed his life. Vyacheslav learns from him in a new business, and his skills and fearlessness are amazing. Soon he achieved remarkable success. Volitional character and selflessness bring recognition to Shydelkevych. His show-flying and parachuting jigsaw puzzles and capture the audience. Every time a courageous man comes across applause and applause.
After gaining experience, popularity and sufficient funds, Vyacheslav and his friends and friends with their counterparts are going on tours, performing in Germany, Poland, Italy, Belarus and Ukraine. And in 1895 they arrived to Zhytomyr.
There was a good autumn weather, on September 17, a large number of people gathered in the city garden of the Hermitage. Those wishing to see the action were so much that some climbed on the trees and roofs of the nearby houses. We had to burn a huge amount of straw to fill the warm air with a 13×23 meter ball, made of a thin fabric covered with a colored eraser and needed 20 soldiers to hold it.
About six Shydelkevych gave the command about the beginning of the flight. The balloon skyrocketed, it was carried to the southwest of the city. The highest altitude – more than 2 km – he reached over the river Teteriv, began to descend and for eight minutes landed in a forest glade on Berdychiv bridge. The organizers of the horses went to the landing site. Shydelkevych deliberately did not take a parachute, which greatly increased the risk. The next time the performance took place on October 5, this day the weather was unfavorable – the ball sped up a lot, the flight lasted 23 minutes, landing took place on the field near the village of Stanishevka. Local peasants, having seen an unusual phenomenon, were very frightened. The third flight was demonstrated on October 8, the ball was carried to the street Meshchansky (today Knyazi Ostrozky). The balloon hooked to the roof of the house, but it all ended well.
Vyacheslav invited the correspondent of the Volyn newspaper to fly in order to be able to describe his impressions. Gazetteer refused, he told frankly about his fears in the publication. He asked the brave man:
– What makes you so risky?
– Lack, difficulty, curiosity, and then enthusiasm! I’ve been flying for almost six years, left the land 148 times and returned without money!
– Leave it! Open a bread or meat shop in Zhytomyr and live for yourself.
– Never! Who would at least once rise to heaven, he will not leave until his death!
Really! The danger constantly accompanied the balloonists. In 1889, Charles Lerou died – he fell into a roaring sea. In the summer of 1895 Stanislav the Anthony died in Vitebsk, but his brother Josef did not leave the matter, but continued to improve his skill and arrangement of the balloon and parachute.
Over time, Josef Drewnicki becomes one of the recognized masters of aeronautics and parachuting. Famous Zhytomyr entrepreneurs invite him to the city to advertise their activities.
The trading house “Sh. Boyarsky and Siny” owned a large tobacco factory, which was located on Basseynaya Street (today there is a street near the Soborna Square). Boyarsky had a business relationship with the most powerful tobacco factory in A. Tsaikyk in Tsarist Russia.
Generally known cucumbers “Ducat” of its production had a special demand. Successful businessman Abram Katyk sought to increase his wealth by paying due attention to the advertisement of his products.
For this purpose a bright balloon named A.Katik was made on his order. The original advertisement was so fond of Boyarsky that in May 1912 they brought Jozef Drevnytsky to promote their products and “Dukat” cigarettes from the A.Katik air balloon. The take-off pad was arranged in the city park “Arcadia” (now the territory of the stadium “Spartak”). On May 13 and 14, 1912, the balloon slowly floated over the city.
The ancients threw down bright advertising postcards, and then, climbing up nearly 1000 meters, landed with a parachute. The inhabitants of the city were delighted, the innovation had a tremendous success. Unbeknownst in Zhytomyr “advertising campaign” quickly paid off and gave more than expected results.
The First World War prevented Yurii Drevnytskyi from flying into the air in the summer of 1914 in Moscow, where he remained, lived and worked as a journalist. Countless injuries and tension of nerves prematurely undermined health, he was seriously ill and went to a better world in 1917. He was 50. He was buried in Vagankovsky cemetery. Over time, the burial place has been lost.
The era of aeronautics continued flying airplanes, and those who overcome fear became more and more …
Serhii Sobchuk
Member of the National Union of Local History of Ukraine
Anna Sobchuk, co-author
Translated by Aliona Matushevich