Linke-Hofmann R.II

The Linke-Hofmann R.II was a German bomber aircraft built in prototype form during World War I. After the sad and humbling experiences with the Linke-Hofmann R.I, the designers took a radically different approach for the second R-Plane the Linke-Hofmann R.II. The designers took the well proven design of the Albatross fighter and scaled it up three times, creating another unusual airplane. This plane powered a single propeller with a diameter 22 ft. 7.5 in. with the same four 260 h.p. Mercedes D.IVa engines that had powered the Linke-Hofmann R.I. This was possibly the largest single propeller aircraft ever built.

The wing span was 138 ft, fuselage length of 66 ft and height of 23 ft.

The Linke-Hofmann R.II was easy to fly sharing the flight characteristics of the single seat fighter it was based. There were plans to make it a 12 passenger airliner after the war, but the restrictions of the Armistice ended further development.

ources

* The German Giants, The Story of the R-planes 1914-1919, G.W Haddow & Peter M. Grosz, 1963. Published by Putnam & Company 42 Great Russell Street London