Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau

Slagorde · Vliegtuigfabrikanten · Duitsland

Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau

Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau GmbH · Rohrbach-Metall-Aeroplan Co. A/S

Adolf Rohrbach’s Berlin firm pioneered the all-metal stressed-skin aeroplane, dodged Versailles through a Danish front company, and lent its methods to the rest of the world.

1922Opgericht
Samengevoegd in Weser Flugzeugbau (Weserflug) in 1934Status
6Vliegtuigen geregistreerd
LandDuitslandOpgericht1922OprichtersAdolf RohrbachHoofdkwartierBerlijnStatusSamengevoegd in Weser Flugzeugbau (Weserflug) in 1934
Het verhaal

Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau: the company and the aircraft that made its name

Building around the treaty

Dr.-Ing. Adolf Rohrbach founded his company in Berlin in 1922 to build aeroplanes on the metal stressed-skin principle, where the skin itself carries the loads. The timing was awkward: the Treaty of Versailles banned Germany from building or exporting large aircraft. Rohrbach’s answer was to set up a Danish company, Rohrbach-Metall-Aeroplan Co. A/S, to build his early designs abroad. Only when the rules relaxed in 1926 could the series be built in Berlin.

The Roland and its records

The one Rohrbach that sold in numbers was the Ro VIII Roland, a ten-seat trimotor that flew in 1926 and went straight to Deutsche Luft Hansa on the Berlin to London route. In its early years it held 22 world records. Three early Rolands went to Iberia for its inaugural Madrid to Barcelona service, and in 1932 Adolf Hitler hired one from Luft Hansa for his campaign flights. Rohrbach’s licence also crossed the North Sea: Beardmore built the giant Inflexible in Scotland, with a wingspan greater than a B-29’s.

Swallowed by Weser

Commercial success never matched the engineering. The Romar flying boat of 1928 was the last Rohrbach design, and only four were built. By 1934 the company had been taken over by Weser Flugzeugbau, where Adolf Rohrbach became technical director. Its methods outlived it. After the Inflexible was dismantled at Martlesham Heath in 1930, its structure was examined for the effects of corrosion on light-alloy stressed skin, and one of its main wheels survives in the Science Museum in London.

Adolf Rohrbach’s Berlin firm pioneered the all-metal stressed-skin aeroplane, dodged Versailles through a Danish front company, and lent its methods to the rest of the world.Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau · verified 2026-10-03
In één oogopslag

Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau in numbers

Het bedrijf

Kortom
Founded 1922

  • Founded in Berlin by Adolf Rohrbach
  • Early aircraft built through a Danish company
  • Berlin production from 1926

Productie

Het meest bekend om
Ro VIII Roland

  • Roland trimotor airliner, 22 world records
  • Romar flying boat, 4 built
  • Licence for the Beardmore Inflexible

Vandaag

Nu
Taken over by Weser, 1934

  • Adolf Rohrbach became Weser’s technical director

De cijfers

Ro VIII Roland built
18
World records held by the Roland
22
Ro X Romar built
4
Het vliegtuig

Every notable Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau aircraft

Vliegtuig Rol Eerste vlucht Gebouwd Status Opmerking
Rohrbach Ro II Vliegende boot 1923 Gepensioneerd
Rohrbach Ro VII Robbe Vliegende boot 1926 Gepensioneerd
Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland Driemotorige passagiersvliegtuig 1926 18 Gepensioneerd Luft Hansa, Iberia, Deruluft; held 22 world records
Rohrbach Ro V Rocco Vliegende boot passagiersvliegtuig 1927 Gepensioneerd
Rohrbach Ro VI / Beardmore Inflexible Experimental transport 1928 1 Gepensioneerd Built by Beardmore at Dalmuir under Rohrbach licence
Rohrbach Ro X Romar Vliegboot voor lange afstanden 1928 4 Gepensioneerd Last Rohrbach design; Luft Hansa Baltic services and French Navy
Plaatsen, mensen, archieven

Where Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau built, who led it, what it achieved

Fabrieken

  • Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau GmbH · Berlin — Production in Germany from 1926
  • Rohrbach-Metall-Aeroplan Co. A/S · Denmark — Front company used to build early aircraft outside Versailles limits

Mensen

  • Adolf Rohrbach · founder, engineer — Pioneer of metal stressed-skin construction; later technical director at Weser Flugzeugbau

Records en primeurs

  • Ro VIII Roland held 22 world records in its early years
  • Beardmore Inflexible, built to Rohrbach principles, spanned 157 ft, about 16 ft more than a B-29
Tijdlijn

Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau, year by year

1922

Adolf Rohrbach founds the company in Berlin

1922

Danish company set up to build aircraft outside Versailles restrictions

1926

Restrictions relaxed; production moves to Berlin

1926

Ro VIII Roland first flies and enters Luft Hansa service

1928

Beardmore Inflexible, the Rohrbach Ro VI, first flies at Martlesham Heath

1928

Ro X Romar flying boat first flies

1929

Nine updated Roland II airliners built for Luft Hansa

1932

Hitler hires a Ro VIII from Luft Hansa for campaign flights

1934

Company taken over by Weser Flugzeugbau

De stamboom

Before and after Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau

Kwam daarnaWeser Flugzeugbau (Weserflug)Took over the company by 1934Read the Weser Flugzeugbau (Weserflug) page
Vragen en antwoorden

Everything people ask about Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau

What was Rohrbach known for?
Pioneering all-metal stressed-skin aircraft construction in the 1920s.
Why did Rohrbach build aircraft in Denmark?
The Treaty of Versailles barred large aircraft construction in Germany until 1926, so early aircraft were built by a Danish company.
What was the Rohrbach Roland?
A ten-seat trimotor airliner of 1926, flown by Luft Hansa and others, which held 22 world records.
What happened to Rohrbach?
By 1934 it was taken over by Weser Flugzeugbau.

Vervolg de rondleiding

Around Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau

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Geverifieerd op 3 oktober 2026.