https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LFG_Roland_C.II
The LFG Roland C.II, usually known as the Walfisch (Whale), was an advanced
German reconnaissance aircraft of World War I. It was manufactured by
Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft G.m.b.H.
The C.II had much lower drag than comparable aircraft of its time. It featured a
monocoque fuselage built with an outer skin of two layers of thin plywood strips
at an angle to each other (known as a Wickelrumpf, or "wrapped body" design).
This had both lower drag and better strength per weight than typical of the
time, but it was relatively slow and expensive to build. (This approach was
further developed in the de Havilland Mosquito of World War II.) The deep
fuselage completely filled the vertical gap between the wing panel center
sections, eliminating any need for cabane struts commonly used in biplanes, and
gave the aircraft its "whale" nickname. Struts and wires were reduced, short of
suffering the weight penalty of cantilever wings, like those used on the
pioneering all-metal Junkers J 1 of late 1915. There was even some attempt to
flair the wings into the fuselage, to eliminate dead air space, a feature
prominently missing from the Schneider Trophy contestants of the following
decade. The engineer in charge of the design was Tantzen, who was a student of
Ludwig Prandtl, the founder of mathematical aerodynamics and the one to
introduce the concept of boundary layer.
The C.II was powered by a single 160 hp (120 kW) Mercedes D III, providing a top
speed of 165 km/h (103 mph), a ceiling of 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) and an
endurance of four hours.
Role
Reconnaissance Aircraft
Manufacturer
Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft G.m.b.H.
Designer
Dipl. Ing. Tantzen
First flight
1915
Introduction
1916
Primary user
The C.II entered service in the spring of 1916. Operationally, handling was
reported as difficult but performance was relatively good. Due to the crew
positions with eyes above the upper wing, upward visibility was excellent, but
downward visibility was poor. It was also used in a fighter escort role and had
a crew of two, pilot and observer/gunner.
Because of its speed, when it was first introduced, it could be intercepted only
from above. Because of the lack of downward visibility, it was best attacked by
diving below and coming up at it.
Albert Ball, whose first victim was a C.II, said in the latter half of 1916 that
it was "the best German machine now".
Specifications (C.II)
General characteristics
Crew: 2, pilot and observer
Length: 7.7 m (25 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 10.3 m (33 ft 9 in)
Height: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Empty weight: 764 kg (1,681 lb)
Loaded weight: 1,284 kg (2,825 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 165 km/h (103 mph) at sea level
Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,123 ft)
Rate of climb: 12 minutes to 2,000 m (6,562 ft)
Armament
Guns: 7.92 mm (0.312 in) Parabellum machine gun on a ring mounting in rear
turret, forward-firing synchronized 7.92mm Spandau machine gun
Bombs: four 12.5 kg bombs carried under the fuselage.
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