LB-1
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Designer Wilbur Staib
Introduction 1949

The Staib LB-1 Special is a homebuilt aircraft design of Wilbur Staib.

Design and development

Wilbur Staib (1914-1993) was a self-taught aircraft designer from Diamond, Missouri. Staib served as a flight instructor during the Second World War at Chanute, Kansas flying PT-14s. He designed and built five different "LB" (Little Bastard) aircraft and a helicopter, of which several had the title "world's smallest". He flew his aircraft in air shows with the title "The Diamond Wizard".[1]

The LB-1 was a single engine, open cockpit biplane with conventional landing gear. The low-cost construction included using brazed steel bedspring wire for wing-ribs, and bed-sheet muslin covering. The airfoil was patterned on a Taylorcraft BC-12D. The aircraft used three fuel tanks: one in the headrest, one in the baggage compartment and one against the firewall.[2] The red and white checkerboard-painted aircraft was outfitted with a smoke system for air show work.[3]

Operational history

Staib used the LB-1 to perform on the pro-akro circuit, performing stunts such as inverted ribbon cuts. His LB-1 was comparable to the Pitts Special flown by Betty Skelton at the same shows. The aircraft performed from 1949 to 1952. The prototype was registered as late as 1990.[4][5]

Specifications (Staib LB-1)

Data from Air Trails

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 15 ft (4.6 m)
  • Wingspan: 17 ft (5.2 m)
  • Height: 5 ft (1.5 m)
  • Wing area: 95 sq ft (8.8 m2)
  • Empty weight: 600 lb (272 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 17 U.S. gallons (64 L; 14 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental C-85 horizontally opposed piston aircraft engine
  • Propellers: 2-bladed Metal

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 96 kn (110 mph, 180 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 87 kn (100 mph, 160 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 48 kn (55 mph, 89 km/h)
  • Endurance: 2.5hr

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. ↑ "Wilbur Staib". Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  2. ↑ Gene Smith (Winter 1971). "A Diamond Rotorcraft in the Rough". Air Trails.
  3. ↑ Experimenter: 16. July 1955. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ "N5927V". Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  5. ↑ Gene Smith (Winter 1971). "A Diamond Rotorcraft in the Rough". Air Trails: 36.
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