LFG Roland D.III

The LFG Roland D.III was a fighter aircraft produced in Germany during World War I.^[1] It was a further development of the D.I fighter, itself derived from the C.II reconnaissance aircraft^[2]. These machines had a fuselage that completely filled the interplane gap, a design feature intended to improve aerodynamics. However, it also resulted in limiting the pilot's field of vision in the down and forward direction, leading to complaints.^[2] LFG attempted to remedy this in the D.III design by introducing a gap between the upper fuselage and the upper wing, braced by cabane struts.^[1] The size of the tailplane was also increased.

While this did indeed result in an improvement over the Roland D.II that had preceded it, the performance of the D.III was inferior to that of other contemporary fighters available to the German Army, in particular those produced by Albatros, and the aircraft was therefore only produced in small quantities.^[1][2]

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Length: 6.84 m (22 ft 5 in)
• Wingspan: 8.94 m (29 ft 4 in)
• Height: 2.76 m (9 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 19.8 m² (213 ft²)
• Empty weight: 717 kg (1,580 lb)
• Gross weight: 961 kg (2,119 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Argus As.III, 180 kW (134 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 175 km/h (109 mph)
• Cruising speed: 156 km/h (98 mph)
• Endurance: 2 hours  30 min
• Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,800 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.5 m/s (880 ft/min)

Armament

• 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.92 mm LMG 08/15 machine guns

Notes

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. 
• World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. 
• Уголок неба