The Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland was an airliner produced in Germany during the 1920s.[1] It was a conventional strut-braced, high-wing monoplane, based loosely on the Zeppelin-Staaken E-4/20 that Adolf Rohrbach designed in 1920.[2] It had a fully enclosed flight deck and passenger cabin, and featured fixed, tailskid undercarriage.[2] Power was supplied by three engines, one in the nose, and two mounted in nacelles on the wings.[2] Construction was of metal throughout.[3]
In 1926 Deutsche Luft Hansa purchased the prototype Roland, followed by five production examples over that year and the next.[4] The production machines were built with open flight decks, although they were later enclosed, as on the prototype.[4] These were put to work servicing a route between Berlin and London via Hanover and Amsterdam.[4] In July 1927 the Roland held the world endurance record for a payload of 1,000 kg with a flight of 14 hours 23 minutes,[4] and the world distance record for a payload of 2,000 kg of 1,750 km (1,090 mi).[5] At different times, the Roland held 22 world records.[6]
In 1928, Luft Hansa replaced three of its Rolands with new machines of slightly different design. Designated Ro VIIIa, these had a fuselage that was stretched by 30 cm (1 ft) and were powered by the more powerful BMW V engines in place of the BMW IVs fitted to the prototype and first production batch.[4] A new Spanish airline, Iberia, purchased the three Rolands that Luft Hansa retired, and put them into service on its inaugural service between Madrid and Barcelona.[4]
In 1929, Rohrbach produced nine examples of a substantially updated Roland for Luft Hansa.[4][6] These featured a major redesign of the flight deck, and a new wing design.[4] Dubbed the Roland II, these aircraft continued in service with the airline until 1936 on its Hamburg–Malmö and Berlin–Munich routes.[4] Luft Hansa sold at least three of these aircraft to Deruluft upon retirement.[4] The Luftwaffe acquired another one, armed it and operated it at the clandestine school at Lipetsk to train bomber crews.[7]
During his 1932 election campaign, Adolf Hitler hired a Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland aeroplane from Deutsche Luft Hansa for his two first series of campaign flights in March and July. The aeroplane was named Immelmann I after World War I pilot Max Immelmann. Hitler switched to a Ju 52 in November 1932.[8]
Popular cultureedit
The Spanishamusement parkTibidabo in Barcelona got a real-size replica of that plane, painted red. It is the most famous ride in the park, opened on September 23, 1928, sometimes referred to as "the first flight simulator in the world", and called "L'avió" (Catalan for "the plane").
Initial version powered by three 250 PS (246.58 hp; 183.87 kW) BMW IV 6-cylinder in-line water-cooled engines.
Ro VIIIa Roland Ia
Three aircraft purchased by Deutsche Luft Hansa, with a 0.30 m (1 ft) fuselage stretch, powered by three 360 PS (355.08 hp; 264.78 kW) BMW V 6-cylinder in-line water-cooled engines.
Ro VIII Roland II
A significantly up-graded version for Deutsche Luft Hansa, with revised cockpit and re-designed wing, powered by three BMW V engines; nine built.
Specifications (Ro VIIIa Roland Ia)edit
Rohrbach Ro.VIII 3-view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.24
Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928[10]
General characteristics
Crew: 3 (2 pilots + 1 engineer)
Capacity: 10 pax
Length: 16.4 m (53 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 26 m (85 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 88 m2 (950 sq ft)
Empty weight: 4,900 kg (10,803 lb)
Gross weight: 7,400 kg (16,314 lb)
Powerplant: 3 × BMW Va six-cylinder in-line water-cooled piston engines 240 kW (320 hp) - 270 kW (360 hp) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 204 km/h (127 mph, 110 kn)
Cruise speed: 165 km/h (103 mph, 89 kn)
Landing speed: 106 km/h (66 mph; 57 kn)
Service ceiling: 4,200 m (13,800 ft)
Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 5.5 minutes; 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in 13 minutes
^Johnson, Robert Craig (December 1998). "Planting the Dragon's Teeth". Chandelle. 3 (3). Retrieved 2009-01-31.
^Hoffmann, Peter (2000). Hitler's personal security : [protecting the Führer, 1921-1945] (1st Da Capo Press ed., [2nd ed.]. ed.). [New York]: Da Capo Press. p. 72. ISBN978-0306809477.
^"Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland I and Roland II". histaviation.com. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
^Grey, C.G., ed. (1928). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. pp. 145c–146c.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rohrbach Ro.VIII Roland.
Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland
November 30, 2023
rohrbach, roland, rohrbach, viii, roland, airliner, produced, germany, during, 1920s, conventional, strut, braced, high, wing, monoplane, based, loosely, zeppelin, staaken, that, adolf, rohrbach, designed, 1920, fully, enclosed, flight, deck, passenger, cabin,. The Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland was an airliner produced in Germany during the 1920s 1 It was a conventional strut braced high wing monoplane based loosely on the Zeppelin Staaken E 4 20 that Adolf Rohrbach designed in 1920 2 It had a fully enclosed flight deck and passenger cabin and featured fixed tailskid undercarriage 2 Power was supplied by three engines one in the nose and two mounted in nacelles on the wings 2 Construction was of metal throughout 3 Ro VIII RolandRole AirlinerNational origin GermanyManufacturer RohrbachDesigner Adolf RohrbachFirst flight 1926Primary user Deutsche Luft HansaNumber built 18 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Popular culture 3 Variants 4 Specifications Ro VIIIa Roland Ia 5 References 6 External linksDesign and development editIn 1926 Deutsche Luft Hansa purchased the prototype Roland followed by five production examples over that year and the next 4 The production machines were built with open flight decks although they were later enclosed as on the prototype 4 These were put to work servicing a route between Berlin and London via Hanover and Amsterdam 4 In July 1927 the Roland held the world endurance record for a payload of 1 000 kg with a flight of 14 hours 23 minutes 4 and the world distance record for a payload of 2 000 kg of 1 750 km 1 090 mi 5 At different times the Roland held 22 world records 6 In 1928 Luft Hansa replaced three of its Rolands with new machines of slightly different design Designated Ro VIIIa these had a fuselage that was stretched by 30 cm 1 ft and were powered by the more powerful BMW V engines in place of the BMW IVs fitted to the prototype and first production batch 4 A new Spanish airline Iberia purchased the three Rolands that Luft Hansa retired and put them into service on its inaugural service between Madrid and Barcelona 4 In 1929 Rohrbach produced nine examples of a substantially updated Roland for Luft Hansa 4 6 These featured a major redesign of the flight deck and a new wing design 4 Dubbed the Roland II these aircraft continued in service with the airline until 1936 on its Hamburg Malmo and Berlin Munich routes 4 Luft Hansa sold at least three of these aircraft to Deruluft upon retirement 4 The Luftwaffe acquired another one armed it and operated it at the clandestine school at Lipetsk to train bomber crews 7 During his 1932 election campaign Adolf Hitler hired a Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland aeroplane from Deutsche Luft Hansa for his two first series of campaign flights in March and July The aeroplane was named Immelmann I after World War I pilot Max Immelmann Hitler switched to a Ju 52 in November 1932 8 Popular culture editThe Spanish amusement park Tibidabo in Barcelona got a real size replica of that plane painted red It is the most famous ride in the park opened on September 23 1928 sometimes referred to as the first flight simulator in the world and called L avio Catalan for the plane Variants editData from German Aviation 1919 1945 9 Ro VIII Roland I Initial version powered by three 250 PS 246 58 hp 183 87 kW BMW IV 6 cylinder in line water cooled engines Ro VIIIa Roland Ia Three aircraft purchased by Deutsche Luft Hansa with a 0 30 m 1 ft fuselage stretch powered by three 360 PS 355 08 hp 264 78 kW BMW V 6 cylinder in line water cooled engines Ro VIII Roland II A significantly up graded version for Deutsche Luft Hansa with revised cockpit and re designed wing powered by three BMW V engines nine built Specifications Ro VIIIa Roland Ia edit nbsp Rohrbach Ro VIII 3 view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No 24Data from Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1928 10 General characteristicsCrew 3 2 pilots 1 engineer Capacity 10 pax Length 16 4 m 53 ft 10 in Wingspan 26 m 85 ft 4 in Wing area 88 m2 950 sq ft Empty weight 4 900 kg 10 803 lb Gross weight 7 400 kg 16 314 lb Powerplant 3 BMW Va six cylinder in line water cooled piston engines 240 kW 320 hp 270 kW 360 hp eachPerformance Maximum speed 204 km h 127 mph 110 kn Cruise speed 165 km h 103 mph 89 kn Landing speed 106 km h 66 mph 57 kn Service ceiling 4 200 m 13 800 ft Time to altitude 1 000 m 3 300 ft in 5 5 minutes 2 000 m 6 600 ft in 13 minutes Wing loading 84 kg m2 17 lb sq ft Power mass 0 0973 kW kg 0 0592 hp lb References edit Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions p 768 ISBN 0 7106 0710 5 a b c The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft London Aerospace Publishing p 2816 Munson Kenneth 1982 Airliners from 1919 to the Present Day London Peerage Books pp 137 138 ISBN 0 907408 36 2 a b c d e f g h i j Munson 1982 p 138 World s Records in Aviation Flight 247 20 March 1931 Retrieved 2009 01 31 a b The Rohrbach Roland II Flight 434 23 May 1929 Retrieved 2009 01 31 Johnson Robert Craig December 1998 Planting the Dragon s Teeth Chandelle 3 3 Retrieved 2009 01 31 Hoffmann Peter 2000 Hitler s personal security protecting the Fuhrer 1921 1945 1st Da Capo Press ed 2nd ed ed New York Da Capo Press p 72 ISBN 978 0306809477 Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland I and Roland II histaviation com Retrieved 8 February 2018 Grey C G ed 1928 Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1928 London Sampson Low Marston amp company ltd pp 145c 146c External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rohrbach Roland amp oldid 1161537043, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
