LFG Roland G.1

The LFG (Luft‑Fahrzeug‑Gesellschaft) Roland G.1 was a German twin‑engine bomber introduced in late 1916 during World War I. Developed from the earlier G‑type series, the G.1 reflected Roland’s attempt to combine the company’s characteristic streamlined fuselage with the growing demand for heavy‑payload aircraft on the Western Front. Powered by two 160 hp Mercedes D.IIIa engines mounted in a tractor configuration, the aircraft featured a wooden box‑type fuselage sheathed in fabric, a forward‑mounted crew compartment for a pilot and observer, and a rear gunner’s position protected by a partially armored windscreen. Its wingspan of 18.5 m and a wing area of 69 m² allowed a maximum load of roughly 1,200 kg, sufficient for a modest bomb load and defensive armament of two 7.92 mm machine guns.

Although only a limited number were produced—estimates range from 15 to 30 examples—the G.1 served as a testbed for later, more successful Roland bombers such as the G.II and G.III. Its streamlined design influenced German bomber aerodynamics, and the aircraft earned a reputation for relatively good handling and speed for its class, reaching up to 150 km/h. The G.1’s brief operational career highlighted the transition from early, improvised bombers to more specialized, mass‑produced warplanes, marking an important step in the evolution of strategic aviation during the Great War.

Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft

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