LFG Roland D.IV
LFG Roland · Germany · first flew 1917 · fighter
The LFG Roland D.IV, later redesignated Dr.I, was a German single-engine, single-seat triplane fighter flown in mid-1917. It produced no performance or operational advantages over existing types, and only one was built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Middle wing at mid-fuselage with the others passing above and below it |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay triplane with equally spaced, staggered wings decreasing in chord from top to bottom
- Middle wing at mid-fuselage with the others passing above and below it
- Upright six-cylinder Mercedes D.III with exposed cylinders and a large spinner
All three wings are almost rectangular in plan apart from angled tips, with short-span ailerons on each. Armament was two synchronised 7.9 mm LMG 08/15 machine guns.
Specifications
- The LFG Roland D.IV has a length of 7.32 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.45 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 155 km/h (96 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
LFG abandoned its earlier wrapped-fuselage approach for a cheaper clinker fuselage of overlapping spruce strips. The single prototype was ordered by Idflieg and tested during the summer of 1917.
Variants
Only one was built. After it was badly damaged at the end of September 1917, LFG rebuilt it using a fuselage intended for a D.VI biplane fighter, and it was then known as the Dr.I.
Where you'll see it
It was decided that the Dr.I showed no particular advantages over existing German fighters, and development was abandoned.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.