Editing Laird Super Solution

{{Short description|1930s airplane}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 | name=Laird Super Solution
 | image=Laird Solution.jpg
 | caption=Laird Super Solution replica at the [[EAA Aviation Museum]]
 | type=[[Racing aircraft]]
 | national_origin=[[United States of America]]
 | manufacturer=[[E. M. Laird Airplane Company]]
 | designer=[[Emil Matthew Laird|E. M. Matty Laird]], [[Raoul J. Hoffman]]
 | first_flight=22 August 1931
 | introduction=
 | retired=
 | status=under restoration
 | primary_user=
 | more_users= <!--Limited to three in total; separate using <br /> -->
 | produced= <!--years in production-->
 | number_built=1
 | program cost= <!--Total program cost-->
 | unit cost= <!--Incremental or flyaway cost for military or retail price for commercial aircraft-->
 | developed_from=[[Laird Solution]]
 | variants=
}}

The '''Laird LC-DW300 and LC-DW500 Super Solution''' aka '''"Sky Buzzard"''' was a racing [[biplane]] built in the early 1930s by [[Emil Matthew Laird|Matty Laird]] for the Cleveland Speed Foundation, Laird was already famous in the [[air race|air racing circuit]].  It had a large [[radial engine]] and an extremely [[Aircraft fairing|faired]] windshield.  Other than being a biplane, it was similar in appearance to the [[Gee Bee R-1|Gee Bee]], a more famous racer from the period.  It was an advanced design for the time because of the relatively clean aerodynamic construction and tight engine [[cowling]].<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Sport Aviation|date=February 1959}}</ref>

The Super Solution was the first winner of the [[Bendix Trophy]] race from [[Burbank, California|Burbank]] to [[Cleveland]] where it was flown by Maj. [[James Harold Doolittle|James H. Doolittle]].

==Development==
Construction of the Super Solution started on 8 July 1931. The aircraft was complete and test flown at Ashborn Field in Chicago by 22 August 1931. Further changes were made by the Christopher Bros. in [[Wichita, Kansas]] in 1932, such as raising the seat, installing a sliding canopy, and adding retractable landing gear.<ref>{{cite web|title=Laird Super Solution|url=http://www.airracinghistory.freeola.com/aircraft/Laird%20Super%20Solution.htm|accessdate=19 June 2011}}</ref>

==Design==
Two engines were used in the Solution, the second being a geared variant that allowed a lower propeller rpm with a larger propeller. The engines ran with high-compression pistons and "doped" leaded fuel. Both produced over 500&nbsp;hp from the standard 375&nbsp;hp P&W R-985 Wasp Jr. S2A engine of the day.

==Operational history==
Initial flight tests proved the aircraft required more rudder area to maintain stability and the fixed pitch propeller needed to be adjusted to allow takeoffs under a mile in length.

*1931 [[National Air Races]] piloted by [[Jimmy Doolittle]] wins the [[Bendix Trophy]] at a 223&nbsp;mph average speed.
*1931 [[Thompson Trophy]] - Trial runs prove difficult, with aileron reversal occurring at speed. The main wing spar crushed from race loads, requires steel patches. Doolittle drops out of the race with engine trouble due to a scuffed piston.<ref>{{cite web|title=Laird Super Solution|url=http://www.airracinghistory.freeola.com/aircraft/Laird%20Super%20Solution.htm|accessdate=22 June 2011}}</ref>
*1931 In October, Doolittle flies the Super Solution on a flight between [[Ottawa|Ottawa, Ontario]], [[Washington D.C.]], and [[Mexico City]], setting a new speed record between the capitals of 12 hours, 36 minutes.
*1932 In August, the [[Shell Oil]] sponsored Solution is test flown by Doolittle with new retractable gear. The aircraft is damaged in a gear-up landing, and Doolittle switches to the [[Gee Bee R-1]]. The Solution is shipped to Shell Oil in St.Louis, then later donated to the Smithsonian's [[National Air and Space Museum]] by the [[Swallow Aircraft Company]] in 1948.

== On display ==
*The [[Experimental Aircraft Association|EAA]] has a Super Solution replica in their museum in [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin]]. It was presented in 1981 by Jimmy Doolittle and Mattie Laird.<ref>{{cite web|title=Laird Super Solution Replica|url=https://www.eaa.org/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1931-laird-super-solution-replica---nr12048|accessdate=20 June 2011}}</ref>
*Jim Moss of Washington state built the only flying reproduction, which is currently on display at [[Fantasy of Flight]] in Polk City, Florida.

==Specifications (Laird Super Solution) ==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Sport Aviation<!-- for giving the reference for the data -->
|prime units?=kts<!-- imp or kts first for US aircraft, and UK aircraft pre-metrification, met(ric) first for all others. You MUST choose a format, or no specifications will show -->
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=
|crew=
|capacity=1
|length m=
|length ft=19
|length in=6
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=21
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=112
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- give where relevant eg sailplanes  -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=1580
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=2842
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|112|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior S2A]]
|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 hp=535<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 note=running on doped fuel with high compression pistons
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=variable-pitch propeller
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop note=

<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=<!-- aerobatic -->
|stall speed mph=<!-- aerobatic -->
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=27.16
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Laird Solution}}
*[http://www.airracinghistory.freeola.com/aircraft/Laird%20Super%20Solution.htm The Laird Super Solution page] from the [http://www.air-racing-history.com/ Air Racing History website]

{{Laird Aircraft}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Laird aircraft|Super Solution]]
[[Category:1930s United States sport aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Racing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1931]]