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. 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 bedspring, which was obtained from a local manufacturer, wing ribs with Taylorcraft airfoil sections. This airplane sat higher off the ground than others. The spring steel gear was of local manufacture, and was made of one piece.
The aircraft cruised at 125 mph (201 km/h), landed at around 55 to 60 mph, 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.
The Staib LB-5 “Little Bit” was a Volkswagen powered variant. One is on display at the Mid-America Air Museum.
All Aero 