12/29/2014. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The Rieseler R III single-seat sports aircraft was the third design by Werner Rieseler of the Rieseler Kleinflugzeugbau, Berlin, Germany.

Filip Bendel of Stockholm, Sweden, studied in Berlin and also took flying lessons there, one of his teachers was Werner Rieseler. Upon returning to Sweden in early 1922, Bendel obtained a Swedish pilot license, becoming the youngest private aviator of Sweden. Bendel had obtained in Berlin the plans for an R III, and with assistance from some friends the aircraft was built in a garage in Stockholm. On June 2, 1922 the aircraft was registered to Bendel as S-AAR and powered by a 32 hp Haacke engine the aircraft was flown the same month by Bendel, and shortly thereafter also by Rieseler.

At the end of 1922 Bendel traveled to the USA to study, his aircraft was stored at the family farm Nafsund outside Eskilstuna. After return from the USA Bendel flew the aircraft sporadically around the farm for a few years. The aircraft was discovered intact at a lodge in 1960 and the Bendel family donated the plane to the Luftfartsverkets Museum (presently known as the Arlanda Flygsamlingar). The aircraft was restored to its current condition and is on display at the museum's entrance.

In slightly different configuration the type received its German Type Certificate as the Rieseler R III/22 on December 20, 1922. It became the first German private and sports aircraft that was built in significant numbers, as at least thirty examples were built by the Stahlwerk Mark Flugzeugbau in Breslau. One example, registered D-284 (c/n 96), became well-known, when flown by company pilot Antonius Raab, was landed at the boulevard Unter den Linden in the center of Berlin in the early morning hours of July 8, 1923."