LFG Roland D.III

Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft · Germany · first flew 1916 · fighter

The LFG Roland D.III was a German single-seat fighter biplane of World War I, notable for its advanced semi-monocoque plywood fuselage construction that gave it a notably streamlined profile compared to most contemporary fighters. It entered limited service with the Imperial German Air Service.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• WWI German biplane fighter with distinctive Walfisch (whale) fuselage
• Plywood-skinned semi-monocoque fuselage unusual for its era
• LFG Roland streamlined fighter of 1916

Distinguished by its deep, smooth plywood fuselage — the Walfisch (whale) nickname reflects the whale-like cross section — and the unusually close interplane gap between the wings caused by the deep fuselage.

Specifications

• The LFG Roland D.III has a length of 6.84 m (22 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 8.94 m (29 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 175 km/h (109 mph).
• Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed from the Roland D.II, the D.III flew in 1916 and saw operational service on the Western Front. The aircraft's advanced construction reduced drag significantly but also created forward visibility problems for the pilot due to the deep fuselage. It was used alongside other German fighters but was eventually superseded by the Albatros series.

Variants

The D.III followed the D.I and D.II in the Roland fighter series; the similar D.VI appeared later.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the Imperial German Air Service (Luftstreitkräfte) on the Western Front in 1916-1917.

Related aircraft

• LFG Roland D.I
• LFG Roland D.VI
• LFG Roland D.VII
• LFG Roland G.1
• AEG C.IV
• AEG C.V
• AGO C.III
• AGO C.IV

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.