The prototype of the LVG B.II aircraft was developed in 1912 by engineer Franz Schneider, who had previously been employed at the French Nieuport works. This Swiss designer, upon joining the Berlin-based factory Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft, established in 1911, designed a biplane with a liquid-cooled engine and a tractor propeller. This was the beginning of a line of biplanes produced between 1912 and 1914.
These aircraft were initially designated as LVG biplanes of the Schneider System — the 1912 prototype. Subsequent designs from this manufacturer were the LVG B built in 1912-1913, the LVG B.I produced in 1913-1914, and the LVG B.II developed in 1914. These aircraft were characterised by their stability and solid construction.
The LVG B.II was the first LVG type to be built in larger numbers. A total of 96 specimens were produced: 7 in 1912 and 89 the following year. The entire production was allocated to flying schools. In the initial period of the war, LVG B.II aircraft also served successfully in reconnaissance roles.
Despite their durability, they were quite quickly displaced from frontline units by more modern machines. The version designated B.IIa was built not only at the parent LVG works but also by Schütte-Lanz and the Munich-based Otto workshops. At the end of 1917, a further development of this type appeared — the LVG B.III.
In Poland, after regaining independence, there was only one LVG B.II, bearing the number 47. This aircraft landed on 19 June 1919 in the vicinity of Rogozno. The damaged airframe was transported to the rear — no repair was undertaken.
The exhibited specimen comes from the 1917 series and bears the factory number 350/17. Produced at the Luftfarzeugbau Schutte-Lanz works in 1917, it has survived complete with its wings, which probably come from the 1914 B.II version. It is the only surviving airframe of this type in the world. During the restoration work carried out so far, the internal structure of the fuselage was reassembled, the original plywood skinning was supplemented, and the horizontal and vertical tail surfaces were restored.
| Wingspan | 14.0 m |
| Length | 9.0 m |
| Takeoff weight | 1100 kg |
| Maximum speed | 100 km/h |
| Ceiling | – |
| Range | 300 km |
| Armament | – |
| Engine | 6-cylinder, inline Mercedes D I with a power output of 100 hp (74 kW) |
