Staib LB-2

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".^[1]

LB-2
Role	Homebuilt aircraft
National origin	United States
Designer	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".^[2]

The LB-2 is a single engine low-wing, open cockpit monoplane with conventional landing gear. LB-2 was the considered the "World's Smallest Monoplane" when built to take the title from Ray Stits 8 ft (2.4 m) span aircraft. The wing section was adapted from a Piper Cub airfoil.^[3]

Operational history

The LB-2 was flown at near top speed, with stalls untested. The roll rate was good, but turns were difficult. Landing speed was 120 mph (193 km/h). The fuselage was disassembled in 1953 to build the Staib LB-3 biplane.^[3][4]

The LB-3 used new 14 ft (4.3 m) span wings made in the same fashion as Staib's LB-1 with brazed steel spring wing ribs with Taylorcraft airfoil sections. The aircraft cruised at 125 mph (201 km/h) and operated on the airshow circuit for two years. Cliff Baker operated the aircraft one more season, suffering a broken back after a high-speed incident.^[1][3]

Variants

Staib LB-3

Biplane built from fuselage of the LB-2

Staib LB-5

"Little Bit" Volkswagen powered variant. One on display at the Mid-America Air Museum.^[5]

Specifications (Staib LB-1)

Data from Air Trails

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 11 ft (3.4 m)
• Wingspan: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
• Wing area: 31 sq ft (2.9 m²)
• Airfoil: Clark Y
• Empty weight: 390 lb (177 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental C-85 horizontally opposed piston aircraft engine

Performance

• Maximum speed: 140 kn (160 mph, 260 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 130 kn (150 mph, 240 km/h)
• Stall speed: 100 kn (120 mph, 190 km/h) est.
• Endurance: 1 h