Staib LB-4

Last updated
LB-4
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States of America
Designer Wilbur Staib
First flight1966
Number built1

The Staib LB-4 a.k.a. Staib Airyplane is a homebuilt aircraft design of Wilbur Staib. [1]

Contents

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". [2]

The LB-4 is a high-wing, uncovered welded steel tube fuselage, single seat twin-engine tricycle gear aircraft. It was registered by the FAA in 1966, and was considered at the time to be the world's smallest twin engine aircraft. The wing ribs were a shortened pattern from a Piper Cub, assembled with staples. The tail section is mounted on a wire braced removable boom for storage. Fuel tanks are made from 1 U.S. gallon (3.8 L; 0.83 imp gal) paint-thinner cans. The engines used recoil starters. [3]

Operational history

The LB-4 was test flown in 1966 at Carthage, Missouri. The aircraft cruises at 60 mph (97 km/h) and must be flown at full throttle. Later configurations included a third 10 hp (7 kW) engine mounted on top of the wing in pusher configuration. [4]

Specifications (Staib LB-1)

Data from Air Trails

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerosport Rail</span> Type of aircraft

The Aerosport Rail is an American minimalist ultralight aircraft, designed by Harris Woods and built by Aerosport Inc. The aircraft was first flown on 14 November 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agusta AZ.8L</span> 1958 Italian airliner prototype with 4 piston engines

The Agusta AZ.8L, or Agusta-Zappata AZ.8L, was an Italian airliner prototype first flown on 9 June 1958. It was of conventional low-wing monoplane configuration with tricycle undercarriage and all-metal construction. Filippo Zappata's design grew out of a twin-engined transport designated AZ.1 that was never built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SAI KZ IV</span> Type of aircraft

The SAI KZ IV was a light twin-engined aircraft first built in Denmark in 1944 for use as an air ambulance.

The Rainbow Aerotrike is a family of South African two-seat ultralight trikes, made by Rainbow Aircraft of Edenvale, Gauteng and available in kit form for amateur construction or fully assembled. The type has been noted for its long-distance flights.

The Worldwide Ultralite Spitfire is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Fred Bell and manufactured by Worldwide Ultralite Industries and later by Don Ecker and Air Magic Ultralights of Houston, Texas. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

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

The Staib LB-2, also called the Little Bastard, Little Bit and The Monster, is a homebuilt aircraft design of Wilbur Staib. It once held the title as the "worlds smallest monoplane".

The Staib Helicopter is a homebuilt aircraft design of Wilbur Staib.

The North Wing Apache is an American two-seat ultralight trike designed and produced by North Wing Design of East Wenatchee, Washington. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The J & J Ultralights Seawing is an American amphibious ultralight trike that was designed and produced by J & J Ultralights of Live Oak, Florida. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brock KB-3</span> American gyroplane

The Brock KB-3 is an American autogyro that was designed by Ken Brock, produced by Ken Brock Mfg and introduced in 1985. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction and was also available as plans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airdrome Morane Saulnier L</span> American fighter replica

The Airdrome Morane Saulnier L is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Airdrome Aeroplanes, of Holden, Missouri. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aircraft Technologies Acro 1</span> American homebuilt airplane

The Aircraft Technologies Acro 1 is an American aerobatic homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Fred Meyer and produced by Aircraft Technologies of Lilburn, Georgia. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit or in the form of plans for amateur construction. Neither plans nor kits are available anymore and the aircraft is out of production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avid Catalina</span> American homebuilt aircraft

The Avid Catalina is an American homebuilt amphibious aircraft that was designed and produced by Avid Aircraft of Caldwell, Idaho. It is a development of the Avid Amphibian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Letov ST-4 Aztek</span> Czech ultralight aircraft

The Letov ST-4 Aztek is a Czech microlight aircraft that was designed and produced by Letov Kbely of Prague - Letňany, in the 1990s. When it was available, the aircraft was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft, or as a kit for amateur construction.

The NWT Spruce Coupe is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by NWT Co of Charleston, Maine. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit and also in the form of plans for amateur construction.

The Vortech Sparrow is an American autogyro that was produced by Vortech of Fallston, Maryland. When it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction. Vortech also supplied rotor blades and some key parts for the design.

The Phoenix Industries Sport is an American powered parachute that was designed and produced by Phoenix Industries of Southampton, New Jersey. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as in the form of plans for amateur construction. In addition to the plans the company also supplied materials kits and canopies.

The Rotorwing-Aero 3D-RV is an American autogyro that was designed by Monte Hoskins and produced by Rotorwing-Aero of Salt Lake City, Utah, introduced in 1989. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction.

The V-STOL Pairadigm is an American twin-engine center-line thrust STOL homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by V-STOL Aircraft Corporation of Fort Myers, Florida, introduced in the late 1990s. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

References

  1. ↑ Sport Aviation. July 1967.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ "Wilbur Staib" . Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  3. ↑ Gene Smith (Winter 1971). "A Diamond Rotorcraft in the Rough". Air Trails.
  4. ↑ Gene Smith (Winter 1971). "A Diamond Rotorcraft in the Rough". Air Trails: 35.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.