Staib LB-1

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]

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]

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

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Pitts Special

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