page_title: Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.II
section_title: Second version
hierarchical_section_title: Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.II / Operational history / Second version
caption_attribution_description: English: Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.IIa profile drawing from L'Aerophile August,1921
context_page_description: The Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.II was a biplane flying boat, designed by Claudius Dornier and built during 1914-15 on the German side of Lake Constance. Initially this aircraft was powered by three engines mounted inside the hull driving three pusher propellers via gearboxes and shafts. The later version was powered by four engines in two push-pull nacelles mounted between the wings.
context_section_description: Rebuilding of the Rs.II was completed by 5 November 1916, with Schroter piloting the aircraft on its second flight the next day.
  The much revised Rs.II had four more reliable Maybach Mb.IVa engines fitted in push pull nacelles mounted on struts above the hull at approx. mid gap. Initially the biplane tail cellule was retained with large fins and rudders attached to the tail boom side members; the tail unit was later made more conventional with a large tailplane and twin fins with rudders. Take-off performance was improved by moving the step further aft but the take-off run was still excessive. The upper wing was also lowered by shortening the centre section struts and moving the mounts for the side struts to halfway down the sides of the fuselage. Other changes included aerodynamic balance surfaces for the ailerons, lower wings with reduced chord and rounded tips.
  Flight tests of the revised Rs.II were still dogged by engine problems with the engines either over-cooling when un-cowled, or overheating when fully cowled, not to mention spark plug and equipment failures exacerbated by a lack of spare parts. During May 1917, while practising landings, the Rs.II landed hard, breaking the central boom support. Unaware of the damage, the pilot attempted to take-off again, but the sagging tail forced the Rs.II back on to the water, where the tail broke off and sank to the bottom of Lake Constance.
  By June 1917 the cumbersome tail unit had been replaced by a cleaner design with a single tailplane and finely formed fins and rudders mounted at the end of each boom. The new boom structure was much stronger and of simpler design. Evaluation by the SVK (Seeflugzeugs-Versuchs-Kommando - Seaplane Testing Command), was carried out from 23 to 26 June 1917 testing various engine off configurations and water-borne handling. Given a qualified clean bill of health, the Rs.II was prepared for a transit flight to Norderney on the North Sea coast to carry out seaworthiness trials.
  Due to the recurring problems with the engines and the lack of clean high grade fuel, the Rs.II was required to carry out a practice delivery flight to ensure that the aircraft could reach its destination. During one of these practice flights, number 4 engine back-fired violently and number 1 engine's propeller disintegrated, showering the wings and hull with splinters. With two engines shut-down the pilot throttled back number 2 and 3 engines, gliding to a safe landing. The damage caused by the disintegrating propeller was deemed uneconomical to repair.
caption: Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.IIa profile drawing from L'Aerophile August,1921
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