During the period when Matty Laird was performing as a barnstorming pilot, he designed this as an aerobatic aircraft for his own use. He built the aircraft with assistance from his brother Charles and friend George E. “Buck” Weaver. The aircraft was constructed from wood, fabric, and wire bracing. It was powered by a 45 hp (34 kW) six-cylinder Anzani radial engine. Laird was approximately 20 years old when he built the aircraft.[2][3][4]
Laird referred to the aircraft as “My Anzani-powered machine” as well as “Boneshaker” because the powerful engine generated such strong vibrations in the airplane.[2]
Operational historyedit
The aircraft's power and structural strength made it excellent for aerobatics, and Laird's flying skill enabled him to take advantage of the aircraft's characteristics and to perform several challenging maneuvers. For instance, he performed the loop-the-loop, which only a few American pilots could perform prior to World War I. Laird's performances in the aircraft generated significant public awareness of him and the aircraft.[2][3]
Laird loaned the aircraft to Katherine Stinson for her 1916-1917 flying exhibition tour to Japan and China. This tour created tremendous attention for Stinson and for Laird's aircraft within and beyond the two countries.[3][5]
Aircraft on displayedit
Laird donated the aircraft to the Henry Ford Museum and it is on display there.[6]
Specifications (1915 Laird Biplane)edit
Data from Heroes of the Sky at Henry Ford Museum, The Planes: 1915 Laird Biplane[7]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Laird 1915 biplane.
^Eckland, K.O. "American airplanes: Laird". aerofiles.com. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
^ abc"Famous Flyers: "Matty" Laird, Super Sleuth". FAA Aviation News. 11 (11). Federal Aviation Administration: 10–11. March 1973.
^ abcElliot, Robert; Escallon, Ed (July 1976). "A Silver Eagle: A Biography of E.M. "Matty" Laird". The Vintage Airplane. 4 (7). Antique/Classic Division of The Experimental Aircraft Association: 15–22.
^"Heroes of the Sky at Henry Ford Museum, The Planes: 1915 Laird Biplane". Retrieved January 5, 2020.
^"'Goddess of the Skies': how one woman changed an industry". The University of New Mexico Newsroom. January 26, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
^"Heroes of the Sky at Henry Ford Museum, The Planes: 1915 Laird Biplane". Retrieved January 5, 2020.
April 11, 2024
laird, laird, 1915, biplane, fourth, aircraft, built, matty, laird, united, states, america, excellent, aerobatic, aircraft, used, very, effectively, performances, laird, well, katherine, stinson, during, tour, japan, china, 1915, henry, ford, museumrole, home. The Laird B 4 1 aka Laird 1915 biplane was the fourth aircraft built by Matty Laird in the United States of America It was an excellent aerobatic aircraft and was used very effectively in performances by Laird as well as by Katherine Stinson during her tour of Japan and China Laird B 4The Laird B 4 of 1915 at the Henry Ford MuseumRole Homebuilt aircraftNational origin United StatesDesigner Emil Matthew LairdIntroduction 1915Number built 1 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Aircraft on display 4 Specifications 1915 Laird Biplane 5 ReferencesDesign and development editDuring the period when Matty Laird was performing as a barnstorming pilot he designed this as an aerobatic aircraft for his own use He built the aircraft with assistance from his brother Charles and friend George E Buck Weaver The aircraft was constructed from wood fabric and wire bracing It was powered by a 45 hp 34 kW six cylinder Anzani radial engine Laird was approximately 20 years old when he built the aircraft 2 3 4 Laird referred to the aircraft as My Anzani powered machine as well as Boneshaker because the powerful engine generated such strong vibrations in the airplane 2 Operational history editThe aircraft s power and structural strength made it excellent for aerobatics and Laird s flying skill enabled him to take advantage of the aircraft s characteristics and to perform several challenging maneuvers For instance he performed the loop the loop which only a few American pilots could perform prior to World War I Laird s performances in the aircraft generated significant public awareness of him and the aircraft 2 3 Laird loaned the aircraft to Katherine Stinson for her 1916 1917 flying exhibition tour to Japan and China This tour created tremendous attention for Stinson and for Laird s aircraft within and beyond the two countries 3 5 Aircraft on display editLaird donated the aircraft to the Henry Ford Museum and it is on display there 6 Specifications 1915 Laird Biplane editData from Heroes of the Sky at Henry Ford Museum The Planes 1915 Laird Biplane 7 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 1 pax Length 19 ft 5 in 5 92 m Wingspan 25 ft 4 in 7 72 m Empty weight 600 lb 272 kg Powerplant 1 Anzani 6 cylinder air cooled radial piston engine 45 hp 34 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformanceReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Laird 1915 biplane Eckland K O American airplanes Laird aerofiles com Retrieved 8 January 2020 a b c Famous Flyers Matty Laird Super Sleuth FAA Aviation News 11 11 Federal Aviation Administration 10 11 March 1973 a b c Elliot Robert Escallon Ed July 1976 A Silver Eagle A Biography of E M Matty Laird The Vintage Airplane 4 7 Antique Classic Division of The Experimental Aircraft Association 15 22 Heroes of the Sky at Henry Ford Museum The Planes 1915 Laird Biplane Retrieved January 5 2020 Goddess of the Skies how one woman changed an industry The University of New Mexico Newsroom January 26 2017 Retrieved January 5 2020 Sign at museum exhibit Heroes of the Sky at Henry Ford Museum The Planes 1915 Laird Biplane Retrieved January 5 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Laird B 4 amp oldid 1158338563, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
