# Laird Solution > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Laird_Solution > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Laird_Solution.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laird_Solution > Source revision: 1321148853 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Infobox aircraft | name = LC-DW Solution | logo = | logo_size = | image = File:Laird LC-DW 300 Solution Aero Digest October,1930.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [Racing aircraft](/source/Racing_aircraft) | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [United States of America](/source/United_States_of_America) | manufacturer = [E. M. Laird Airplane Company](/source/E._M._Laird_Airplane_Company) | design_group = | designer = [E. M. Laird](/source/E._M._Laird) | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 1 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1930 | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = [Laird Super Solution](/source/Laird_Super_Solution) | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Laird Solution''', also called the '''[Laird LC-DW Solution](/source/Laird_LC-DW_Solution)''', '''[Laird LC-DW300 Super Solution](/source/Laird_LC-DW300_Super_Solution)''' and '''[Laird LC-DW500 Super Solution](/source/Laird_LC-DW500_Super_Solution)''', was touted as being the "solution" to the problem of the [Travel Air Mystery Ship](/source/Travel_Air_Type_R_Mystery_Ship).{{cite journal|journal=Skyways|date=October 2001}} The Solution won the 1930 [Thompson Trophy](/source/Thompson_Trophy) race days.{{cite book|title=Aviation's great recruiter: Cleveland's Ed Packard|author=Herm L. Schreiner}} ==Design and development== In 1930 [Matty Laird](/source/Matty_Laird) was commissioned to build a racing plane based on the [Laird Speedwing](/source/Laird_Speedwing) by [B.F. Goodrich's](/source/Goodrich_Corporation) Lee Schoenhair for the 1930 [Thompson Trophy](/source/Thompson_Trophy) race. Schoenhair backed out of the project, believing the aircraft would not be tested in time. Laird entered the Solution himself in the 1930 Thompson Trophy with [Charles "Speed" Holman](/source/Charles_%22Speed%22_Holman) as the pilot.{{cite journal|journal=Flying Magazine|date=September 1977|title=The Solution |author=Ted West}} The Solution, (registered NR10538), was a [biplane](/source/biplane) with [conventional landing gear](/source/conventional_landing_gear), having a welded steel fuselage and [aircraft fabric covering](/source/aircraft_fabric_covering). The aircraft kept the same registration number NR10538, and was repainted several times from black and gold, white and gold, to lavender and gold.{{cite journal|journal=Skyways|date=October 2001|title=Racing Notebook}} A second aircraft, (NR12048), powered by a 535 hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp was built as the [Laird LC-DW300 Super Solution](/source/Laird_LC-DW300_Super_Solution), retaining the fixed undercarriage of the original, for the 1931 Bendix Trophy which it won, piloted by [Jimmy Doolittle](/source/Jimmy_Doolittle). This aircraft was modified with retractable landing gear for the 1932 Bendix Trophy but on a test flight the gear failed to lower and Doolittle was forced to belly land the aircraft, forcing withdrawal from the race. ==Operational history== * 1930 [Thompson Trophy](/source/Thompson_Trophy) (Solution NR10538) - [Chicago, Illinois](/source/Chicago%2C_Illinois) 1 September 1930. Placed first.{{convert|201.91|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}} for 20 laps{{cite journal|journal=Skyways|date=October 2001|title=Racing Notebook}} The pilot [Speed Holman](/source/Speed_Holman) flew with exhaust gases leaking into the cockpit causing him to pass out several times during the event.{{cite journal|journal=Popular Aviation|date=July 1931|page=21}} * 1931 Thompson Trophy (Solution NR10538) - Sponsored by the Sweet Kiss Tooth Paste Company. The Laird Solution was restored over a period of seven years and is on display in its Black and Gold paint scheme at the [New England Air Museum](/source/New_England_Air_Museum).http://neam.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&layout=edit&id=865 "Laird LC-DW 300 'Solution' ==Variants== ;Laird LC-DW Solution :Powered by a 300hp [Pratt & Whitney R-985](/source/Pratt_%26_Whitney_R-985),{{cite journal|journal=Flying Magazine|date=June 1931|page=49}} (NR10538), competed in the 1930 and 1931 Thompson trophy races piloted by ["Speed" Holman](/source/%22Speed%22_Holman) achieving an average speed of 202mph. ;[Laird LC-DW300 Super Solution](/source/Laird_LC-DW300_Super_Solution) :A second aircraft, (NR12048), built for Jimmy Doolittle to race in the 1931 [Bendix Trophy](/source/Bendix_Trophy), powered by a 535hp supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Jr. ;[Laird LC-DW500 Super Solution](/source/Laird_LC-DW500_Super_Solution) :NR12048 modified with retractable undercarriage. Entered in the 1932 Bendix Trophy, but withdrawn after a belly landing due to the landing gear failing to extend forced withdrawal. ==Specifications (LC-DW Solution) == thumb|Laird LC-DW 300 Solution 3-view drawing from Aero Digest October,1930 {{Aircraft specs |ref=Skyways, Race to the Wind |prime units?=kts |crew=one |length m= |length ft=17 |length in=9 |length note= |span m= |span ft=21 |span in= |span note= |upper span m= |upper span ft= |upper span in= |upper span note= |lower span m= |lower span ft= |lower span in= |lower span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=1380 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general= |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior](/source/Pratt_%26_Whitney_Wasp_Junior) |eng1 type=radial |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=470 |prop blade number=2 |prop name=variable-pitch propeller |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note= |perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph=202 |max speed kts= |max speed note=average achieved during races |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }} {{aircontent |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }} ==References== {{commons category|Laird Solution}} {{reflist|2}} {{Laird Aircraft}} Solution Category:1930s United States sport aircraft Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Biplanes Category:Racing aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1930 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Laird Solution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laird_Solution) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laird_Solution?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.