German aircraft factory Luftfahrzeug
Gesselschaft mbH (L.F.G.), since
1914 known as Roland, designed and
produced
for German Army Air Service extraordinary
airplanes: the two-seater C.II Walfisch
and single-seater D.I, D.II, D.IIa
and D.III. There were quite advanced
constructions with interesting "Wickelrumpf" (semi-monocoque)
fuselage.
Next interesting L.F.G.'s fighter
plane was the Roland D.VI from 1917
with
fuselage constructed by the "Klinkerrumpf" method.
Also the powerplant of the Roland
D.VIa version, the in-line 185
HP Benz Bz.IIIa
was atypical. Roland D.VIb was
powered by the in-line 180 HP Mercedes
D.III
engine. Both versions were different
in various construction details.
Prototypes of Roland D.VI were
quite good maneuverable. Their
handlig characteristics
and performances were also good.
The pilot's visibility was excellent.
After
the trials and adaptations there
were ordered only 350 machines,
150 of them
as D.VIa version.
In August 1918 70 Rolands D.VI
served on the Western Front.
They were not
popular, because they were
outclassed by technically superior
German
and Allied types used on the
Western Front
in the Summer 1918 year.
The importance of the Roland
D.VI type was marginal. Only
lack of
German fighter
planes caused the production
of this average and obsolete
type.
Nevertheless
the Roland D.VI was interesting
the World War I fighter plane
with good
maneuverability and pleasant
handling characteristics.
|
