An Austrian piano maker Vasili Kress  had attended Vienna University with the hopes of learning the skills to build and fly a heavier than air.  In 1898, Kress began building a seaplane. The craft was constructed of wood and aluminum. It had three pairs of wings which was designed to avoid each others air stream for maximum lift.

The craft had three rudders for control in the water and in flight. At age 65, on October 15, 1901, Kress attempted to become the first person to fly a heavier than air aircraft. The craft was powered by a 30 HP engine and  weighed over 800 lbs. Kress attempted his flight on the Tullnerbach reservoir. Kress craft was unable to lift out of the water. While attempting flight, Kress noticed some large rocks in the water, in his attempt to swerve his craft away a wind gust caught the craft and capsized it. At minimum,  the the craft was of poor design and it weight made it impossible to fly.