L.F.G. Roland D.VIa

As insurance against the Fokker D.VII having serious problems, an order for the LFG Roland D.VIa was placed after the 1918 fighter trials. The D.VI featured a distinctive "clinker-built" fuselage of long wooden strips and sharp lines. Its performance was good but the unusual fuselage construction limited production. Visibility and maneuverability were above average. It saw limited use at the front lines but it also saw some use with the German Navy.

While it was robust and had no major defects, it was not a big step up from the Albatros D.V and most pilots preferred the Fokker D.VII. The D.VIb was a small improvement with its higher-performance engine. The D.VIa was used by Jastas 23b, 32b, 33, 35b, and perhaps 30 and 34b.

Card Links

 * German
 * Jasta 59
 * Jasta 23
 * Jasta 23b

1:144 Scale

 * Shapeways: wow