A note by the chief of the Military Engineering Board of the Russian Ministry of War, describes the results of testing in 1883: "we have seen it in action ... but it could not take off".

A special presentation was made and resulted in the assignment of an evaluation commission, which included a Division II (Mechanical) representative.

Historical research by the Soviet Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (Russian: ЦАГИ) of Moscow in 1979 and 1981 showed that it would be impossible to keep the aircraft in level flight due to a lack of stability.

However, historical data has emerged claiming that Mozhaysky's aircraft achieved flight, as found in a 1909 newspaper,[2] and also included in the "Military Encyclopedia" of 1916.

The aircraft design drawings disappeared, although various drafts of handmade components and their descriptions have been found throughout the twentieth century.

On that day the weather station at Pulkovo measured wind speeds at 10 metres per second (19 kn; 22 mph), so it may have been sufficient for flight.