Roland D.I

The Roland D.I was a single-seat fighter plane of the aircraft company m.b.H., which was used from the end of 1916 at the front. Due to the aerodynamic design and appearance, the aircraft received the nickname shark.

Development and construction:

In mid-1916, the German Army Command demanded a successor aircraft for the already outdated Fokker monoplane type E.I to IV. Based on the two-seated Roland C.II "Walfisch", the engineers Tantzen and Hoffmann developed the Roland D.I.

Due to the winding construction, the aircraft had a very stable hull and by the humpback-like bulge on the upper support surface, the pilot had an excellent view to the top, the view to the front and down, however, was limited.

Unlike the C.II, the D.I did not use staggered double-decker bearing surfaces but a conventional pair of struts to connect the wings with each other.

In July 1916, the first prototype of the army command was presented and the production was commissioned. After about 60 built aircraft, however, the factory in Berlin Adlershof was on fire and was badly damaged. After the reconstruction, however, the already available Roland D.II was built.

Roland D.I

Use in the First World War:

Since the Roland D.I aircraft was also inferior to the Albatros D.II also used on the Western Front, only a few aircraft were used there. The vast majority was used in the Balkans together with the Bulgarian Air Force.

Technical specifications:

You can find the right literature here:

Fokker Dr I Aces of World War 1 (Aircraft of the Aces)

Fokker Dr I Aces of World War 1 (Aircraft of the Aces) Paperback – Bargain Price, August 25, 2001

Undoubtedly the most famous fighter type to see service on either side during World War 1, the Fokker Dr I was a revelation when it entered service on the western front in 1917. Manfred von Richthofen’s JG 1 ‘circus’ was the first Jasta to completely re-equip with the new fighter, and in the skilled hands of its numerous aces the Dr I proved a formidable opponent. The Dr I remained in service on the Western Front until replaced by the superior Fokker D VII in May 1918. Just weeks prior to that, however, Germany’s leading ace, the great ‘Red Baron’, had been killed at the controls of a Dr I.

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Friedrichshafen Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes (Great War Aviation) (Volume 21)

Friedrichshafen Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes (Great War Aviation) (Volume 21) Paperback – February 16, 2016

This book describes and illustrates the development of Friedrichshafen aircraft of WWI with text, 540 photos, 18 in color, 37 color profiles, production quantities and serial numbers of aircraft, and aircraft dimensions and performance specifications. In addition, there are 26 official SVK drawings and 11 aircraft are illustrated in scale drawings to 1/48 (4) or 1/72 (7) scales. The book has 312 pages and is of interest to aviation historians, enthusiasts, and modelers alike.

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German and Austro-Hungarian Aircraft Manufacturers 1908-1918

German and Austro-Hungarian Aircraft Manufacturers 1908-1918 Paperback – December 15, 2010

Much has been written about the British aircraft of the First World War, but little has surfaced about the aircraft of the Axis powers, Germany and Austria. Here, Terry C. Treadwell tells the story of the aircraft from companies such as Fokker, builder of the famous triplane, as fl own by Baron von Richthofen's Flying Circus, AEG, Albatros, Junkers and Hansa. From reconnaissance aircraft to state-of-the-art bombers that could reach London, this is the definitive guide to aircraft of the Axis powers during the First World War. The aircraft are explained in detail and a history of each company is provided, making this an excellent source book for aircraft enthusiasts, model makers and those interested in the air war over the trenches of France and Belgium, as well as further afield in the Italian campaign.

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The Zeppelin in Combat: A History of the German Naval Airship Division

The Zeppelin in Combat: A History of the German Naval Airship Division Hardcover – January 9, 1997

The standard reference now revised and expanded. Dr. Robinson has opened up his vast photo archives to enhance this new edition of his classic work. Much of the new photographic material is published here for the first time.

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