LFG Roland D.II

infobox Aircraft
name = Roland D.II
type = Fighter
logo =
manufacturer = Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft



caption =
designer =
first flight = October 1916
introduction = Early 1917
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 300
unit cost =
developed from = Roland D.I
variants with their own articles =

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.

The 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. 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 105mph at sea level. Later aircraft, designated D.IIa, were powered by an 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. However, it is also reported that the aircraft had particularly sensitive controls, particularly in the yawing plane. [Cowin, H. W. "German and Austrian Aviation of World War I". Osprey Publishing Ltd, 2000. ISBN 1-841-76069-2] The type is known to have been been used by Jasta 25 at their Canatlarzi base in Macedonia in 1917.

Variants

* 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.

Operators

;flag|German Empire
*"Luftstreitkräfte"
**Jasta 25
**Jasta 27
*"Kaiserliche Marine"

pecifications (D.II)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=German Aircraft of the First World War Gray and Thetford 1962, p.164-165.]
crew=1
capacity=
length main= 6.93 m
length alt= 22 ft 8⅞ in
span main= 8.94 m
span alt= 29 ft 4 in
height main= 3.11 m
height alt= 10 ft 2⅜ in
area main= 22.8 m²
area alt= 246.2 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 715 kg
empty weight alt= 1,573 lb
loaded weight main= 954 kg
loaded weight alt= 2,099 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (jet)=
type of jet=
number of jets=
thrust main= kN
thrust alt= lbf
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main= kN
afterburning thrust alt= lbf
engine (prop)=Mercedes D.III
type of prop= 6-cylinder in-line water cooled piston engine
number of props=1
power main= 119 kW
power alt= 160 hp
power original=
max speed main= 180 km/h
max speed alt= 97 knots, 112 mph
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main= 5,000 m Angelucci 1981, p.50.]
ceiling alt= 16,400 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= kg/m²
loading alt= lb/ft²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= W/kg
power/mass alt= hp/lb
more performance=
*Climb to 5,000 m (16,400 ft): 23 min
*Endurance: 2 hours Donald 1994, p. 554.]
guns=2 x 7.92 mm LMG08/15 machine guns
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
see also=

related=*LFG Roland C.II

similar aircraft=*Albatros D.III
*Pfalz D.III
*Spad VII
lists=*List of military aircraft of Germany

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Angelucci, Enzo (editor). "World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft". London:Jane's, 1981. ISBN 0 7106 0148 4.
* 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 0-83173-939-8.