LFG Roland D.XVI
LFG Roland · Germany · first flew 1918 · fighter
The LFG Roland D.XVI was a single-seat, single-engine German fighter with a parasol wing, flown close to the end of the First World War. It was initially designated the LFG Roland E.I.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Parasol wing carried above the fuselage on a pair of N-form struts |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Parasol wing carried above the fuselage on a pair of N-form struts
- Trailing-edge cut-out in the wing to improve upward vision from the cockpit
- Flat-sided rectangular plywood fuselage with a fully cowled rotary engine
The straight-tapered, fabric-covered wing sits above the fuselage on N-form struts. The tailplane is mounted at mid-fuselage and the rudder extends to the keel.
Specifications
- The LFG Roland D.XVI has a length of 5.9 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.46 m (31 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The prototype flew in September to October 1918. The Idflieg allowed the Siemens-Halske-engined version to enter the third D-type fighter competition.
Variants
Two prototypes were built. They differed in the plywood covering of the fuselage, in their vertical tails and in their engines: one had a Goebel Goe.III and the other a Siemens-Halske Sh.III.
Where you'll see it
In the competition the Sh.III-engined version was faster than the Fokker D.VII below 4,000 m but slower at higher altitude. Only two were built.
Related aircraft
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