Staib LB-1

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. Staib designed and built five different "LB" (Little Bastard) aircraft and a helicopter, of which several had the title "world's smallest" at their time of construction. Staib flew his aircraft in airshows 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 airshow 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; 177 km/h (110 mph)
• Cruise speed: 87 kn; 161 km/h (100 mph)
• Stall speed: 48 kn; 89 km/h (55 mph)
• Endurance: 2.5hr

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Pitts Special

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. 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.

External links

• Image of a LB-5 at the Mid-America Air Museum