| National origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Designer | Wilbur Staib |
| Number built | 1 |
The Staib Helicopter 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-14's. 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 Staib Helicopter is a powered by a Continental C85 with a V-belt linkage. The gearbox is sourced from a Ford Model A, the clutch from a Studebaker, the rotors cut down from a Brantly B-2 and cooling system from a Chevrolet Corvair. Four different rotor heads were tested.[2]
Operational history
The prototype was flown tethered with a 65 hp (48 kW) engine then upgraded to an 85 hp (63 kW) engine.[3]
References
- ^ "Wilbur Staib". Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ Gene Smith (Winter 1971). "A Diamond Rotorcraft in the Rough". Air Trails
- ^ Gene Smith (Winter 1971). "A Diamond Rotorcraft in the Rough". Air Trails