# Staib LB-2

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The **Staib LB-2**, also called the **Little Bastard**, **Little Bit** and **The Monster**, is a [homebuilt aircraft](/source/Homebuilt_aircraft) design of Wilbur Staib. It once held the title as the "worlds smallest monoplane".[1]

## Design and development

Wilbur Staib (1914-1993) was a self-taught aircraft designer from [Diamond, Missouri](/source/Diamond,_Missouri). Staib served as a flight instructor during the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War) at [Chanute, Kansas](/source/Chanute,_Kansas) flying [PT-14s](/source/Waco_UPF-7). 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](/source/Monoplane) with [conventional landing gear](/source/Conventional_landing_gear). LB-2 was the considered the "World's Smallest Monoplane" when built to take the title from [Ray Stits](/source/Ray_Stits) 8 ft (2.4 m) span aircraft. The wing section was adapted from a [Piper Cub](/source/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](/source/Fuselage) was disassembled in 1953 to build the [Staib LB-3](/source/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](/source/Staib_LB-1) with brazed steel spring [wing ribs](/source/Wing_rib) 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](/source/Volkswagen_air-cooled_engine) variant. One on display at the [Mid-America Air Museum](/source/Mid-America_Air_Museum).[5]

## References

1. *Experimenter*. December 1955.

1. ["Wilbur Staib"](http://www.eaa.org/apps/obituaries/MemorialWall2.aspx?ID=995). Retrieved 16 January 2012.

1. Gene Smith (Winter 1971). "A Diamond Rotorcraft in the Rough". *Air Trails*

1. ["World's Smallest"](http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/design/q0214.shtml). Retrieved 16 January 2012.

1. ["Little Bit"](http://www.local4all.com/pics/zs6/64840diamond001mo.html). Retrieved 16 January 2012.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Staib LB-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staib_LB-2) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staib_LB-2?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.