The Laird B-4, aka Laird 1915 biplane, was the fourth aircraft built by Matty Laird in the

United States of America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...

. It was an excellent

aerobatic Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in conventional passenger-carrying flights. The term is a portmanteau of "aeroplane" and "acrobatics". Aerobatics are performed in aeroplanes and gl ...

aircraft and was used very effectively in performances by Laird, as well as by

Katherine Stinson Katherine Stinson (February 14, 1891 – July 8, 1977) was an American aviation pioneer who, in 1912, became the fourth woman in the United States to earn the FAI pilot certificate. She set flying records for aerobatic maneuvers, distance, a ...

during her tour of

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

and

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

Design and development

During the period when Matty Laird was performing as a

barnstorming Barnstorming was a form of entertainment in which stunt pilots performed tricks individually or in groups that were called flying circuses. Devised to "impress people with the skill of pilots and the sturdiness of planes," it became popular in t ...

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 six-cylinder Anzani radial engine. Laird was approximately 20 years old when he built the aircraft. 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.

Operational history

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 A military exercise, training exercise, maneuver (manoeuvre), or war game is the employment of military resources in training for military operations. Military exercises are conducted to explore the effects of warfare or test tactics and strat ...

. 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. 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.

Aircraft on display

Laird donated the aircraft to the

Henry Ford Museum The Henry Ford (also known as the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village, and as the Edison Institute) is a history museum complex in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, within Metro Detroit. The museum collection contai ...

and it is on display there.Sign at museum exhibit.

Specifications (1915 Laird Biplane)

References

{{Laird Aircraft Biplanes Aerobatic aircraft B.4