L.F.G. Roland D.VIb

German aircraft factory Luftfahrzeug Gesselschaft mbH (L.F.G.), since 1914 known as Roland, designed and produced for German Army Air Service extraordinary airplanes: the two-seater C.II Walfisch and single-seater D.I, D.II, D.IIa and D.III. There were quite advanced constructions with interesting "Wickelrumpf" (semi-monocoque) fuselage.

Next interesting L.F.G.'s fighter plane was the Roland D.VI from 1917 with fuselage constructed by the "Klinkerrumpf" method. Also the powerplant of the Roland D.VIa version, the in-line 185 HP Benz Bz.IIIa was atypical. Roland D.VIb was powered by the in-line 180 HP Mercedes D.III engine. Both versions were different in various construction details.

Prototypes of Roland D.VI were quite good maneuverable. Their handling characteristics and performances were also good. The pilot's visibility was excellent. After the trials and adaptations there were ordered only 350 machines, 150 of them as D.VIa version.

In August 1918 70 Rolands D.VI served on the Western Front. They were not popular, because they were outclassed by technically superior German and Allied types used on the Western Front in the Summer 1918 year.

The importance of the Roland D.VI type was marginal. Only lack of German fighter planes caused the production of this average and obsolete type. Nevertheless the Roland D.VI was interesting the World War I fighter plane with good maneuverability and pleasant handling characteristics.