The D.II used a plywoodmonocoque fuselage. Two layers of plywood strips were spirally wrapped in opposing directions over a mold to form one half of a fuselage shell. The fuselage halves were then glued together, covered with a layer of fabric, and doped. This design, which was known as the Wickelrumpf, allowed the creation of a smooth, strong and light structure.[1] The upper wing was attached to the fuselage by means of a large central pylon, greatly impairing the pilot's forward vision. Armament consisted of twin "Spandau" LMG 08/15 machine guns buried in the fuselage decking.
The D.II was initially powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine, giving a top speed of 105 mph at sea level. Later aircraft, designated D.IIa, were powered by a 180 hp Argus As.III. The As.III offered poor performance above 3,000 m and the D.IIa was mostly relegated to operations on the Eastern Front.
Nicknamed Haifisch (shark) for its sleek appearance, the D.II and D.IIa proved generally unpopular in service due to poor fields of view and heavy controls. It was quite fast and strong, but had mediocre manoeuvrability and handling.[1] However, it is also reported that the aircraft had particularly sensitive controls, particularly in the yawing plane.[2] The type is known to have been used by Jasta 25 at their Canatlarzi base in Macedonia in 1917.
Variantsedit
LFG Roland C.V
D.II: Single-seat fighter-scout biplane, powered by a 160 hp (119 kW) Mercedes D.III piston engine.
D.IIa: Single-seat fighter-scout biplane, powered by a 180 hp (134 kW) Argus As.III piston engine.
C.V: One-off two seat derivative with a 160 hp (119 kW) Mercedes D.III engine.
Pfalz D.II/D.IIa: aircraft licence-built by Pfalz Flugzeugwerke, from February 1917 renamed Roland D.II/D.IIa (Pfal). There were built 100 D.II (s/n 2830-2929/16) and 100 D.IIa (s/n 300-399/17).[1]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to LFG Roland D.II.
Abbott, Dan S. & Grosz, Peter M. (1977). "The Benighted Rolands". Air Enthusiast (3): 38–48. ISSN 0143-5450.
Anderson, Lennart (November–December 2019). "La renaissance de l'aviation militair bulgare dans les années vingt" [The Rebirth of Bulgarian Military Aviation in the Twenties]. Avions (in French) (232): 52–66. ISSN 1243-8650.
Angelucci, Enzo (editor). World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. London: Jane's, 1981. ISBN0-7106-0148-4.
Cowin, H. W. German and Austrian Aviation of World War I. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN1-84176-069-2.
Donald, David (editor). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Blitz, 1997. ISBN1-85605-375-X.
Gray, Peter and Thetford, Owen. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962.
Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. The Complete Book of Fighters. London: Salamander Books, 1994. ISBN0-8317-3939-8.
Herris, Jack (2012). Pfalz Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 5. Charleston, SC: Aeronaut Books. ISBN978-1-935881-12-4.
December 18, 2023
roland, german, single, seat, fighter, world, type, manufactured, luftfahrzeug, gesellschaft, also, pfalz, flugzeugwerke, under, license, roland, iirole, fightermanufacturer, luft, fahrzeug, gesellschaft, pfalzfirst, flight, october, 1916introduction, early, 1. The LFG Roland D II was a German single seat fighter of World War I The type was manufactured by Luftfahrzeug Gesellschaft and also by Pfalz Flugzeugwerke under license Roland D IIRole FighterManufacturer Luft Fahrzeug Gesellschaft PfalzFirst flight October 1916Introduction Early 1917Number built 300Developed from Roland D I Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Specifications D II 5 See also 6 References 7 Notes 8 BibliographyDesign and development editThe D II used a plywood monocoque fuselage Two layers of plywood strips were spirally wrapped in opposing directions over a mold to form one half of a fuselage shell The fuselage halves were then glued together covered with a layer of fabric and doped This design which was known as the Wickelrumpf allowed the creation of a smooth strong and light structure 1 The upper wing was attached to the fuselage by means of a large central pylon greatly impairing the pilot s forward vision Armament consisted of twin Spandau LMG 08 15 machine guns buried in the fuselage decking The D II was initially powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D III engine giving a top speed of 105 mph at sea level Later aircraft designated D IIa were powered by a 180 hp Argus As III The As III offered poor performance above 3 000 m and the D IIa was mostly relegated to operations on the Eastern Front Nicknamed Haifisch shark for its sleek appearance the D II and D IIa proved generally unpopular in service due to poor fields of view and heavy controls It was quite fast and strong but had mediocre manoeuvrability and handling 1 However it is also reported that the aircraft had particularly sensitive controls particularly in the yawing plane 2 The type is known to have been used by Jasta 25 at their Canatlarzi base in Macedonia in 1917 Variants edit nbsp LFG Roland C VD II Single seat fighter scout biplane powered by a 160 hp 119 kW Mercedes D III piston engine D IIa Single seat fighter scout biplane powered by a 180 hp 134 kW Argus As III piston engine C V One off two seat derivative with a 160 hp 119 kW Mercedes D III engine Pfalz D II D IIa aircraft licence built by Pfalz Flugzeugwerke from February 1917 renamed Roland D II D IIa Pfal There were built 100 D II s n 2830 2929 16 and 100 D IIa s n 300 399 17 1 Operators edit nbsp BulgariaBulgarian Air Force nbsp German EmpireLuftstreitkrafte Jasta 25 Jasta 27 Jasta 32 Kaiserliche MarineSpecifications D II editData from German Aircraft of the First World War 3 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 6 93 m 22 ft 9 in Wingspan 8 94 m 29 ft 4 in Height 3 11 m 10 ft 2 in Wing area 22 8 m2 245 sq ft Empty weight 715 kg 1 576 lb Gross weight 954 kg 2 103 lb Powerplant 1 Mercedes D III 6 cylinder water cooled in line piston engine 119 kW 160 hp Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 180 km h 110 mph 97 kn Endurance 2 hours 4 Service ceiling 5 000 m 16 000 ft 5 Time to altitude 5 000 m 16 000 ft in 23 minutesArmament Guns 2 7 92 mm LMG08 15 machine gunsSee also editRelated development LFG Roland C II LFG Roland D I LFG Roland D III Pfalz D IIIAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Albatros D II Albatros D III Siemens Schuckert D I Nieuport 17 Spad VII Airco DH 2 Sopwith PupRelated lists List of military aircraft of GermanyReferences editNotes edit a b c Herris Jack Pfalz Aircraft of World War I Great War Aircraft in Profile Volume 4 2001 ISBN 1891268155 P 27 Cowin 2000 p 49 Gray and Thetford 1962 pp 164 165 Donald 1994 p 554 Angelucci 1981 p 50 Bibliography edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to LFG Roland D II Abbott Dan S amp Grosz Peter M 1977 The Benighted Rolands Air Enthusiast 3 38 48 ISSN 0143 5450 Anderson Lennart November December 2019 La renaissance de l aviation militair bulgare dans les annees vingt The Rebirth of Bulgarian Military Aviation in the Twenties Avions in French 232 52 66 ISSN 1243 8650 Angelucci Enzo editor World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft London Jane s 1981 ISBN 0 7106 0148 4 Cowin H W German and Austrian Aviation of World War I Oxford Osprey Publishing 2000 ISBN 1 84176 069 2 Donald David editor The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft London Blitz 1997 ISBN 1 85605 375 X Gray Peter and Thetford Owen German Aircraft of the First World War London Putnam 1962 Green William and Swanborough Gordon The Complete Book of Fighters London Salamander Books 1994 ISBN 0 8317 3939 8 Herris Jack 2012 Pfalz Aircraft of WWI A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes Great War Aviation Centennial Series Vol 5 Charleston SC Aeronaut Books ISBN 978 1 935881 12 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title LFG Roland D II amp oldid 1187510157, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
