The Linburg Special 1
Wed Jun 25, 2025 12:08 pm
The Linburg Special 1 fixed gear biplane was designed by Ken Malone and built in St Louis, Missouri by Vincent John Linburg (b. 23 April 1913; died November 1984). With registration NX479W and constructor’s number R-1, it was powered by a 125hp Warner Scarab radial (s/n 572), had a wingspan of 13ft 0in, a length of 12 ft 0 in and fuel capacity 22½ gallons. Propeller was a fixed-pitch wooden Universal, apparently purpose-made for the aircraft.
The image below would appear to show Malone in the Special 1's cockpit while Linburg looks on at left.
The Special 1 had been granted an aircraft license in the Experimental category on 15 July 1938 and it was flown for the first time from Lambert Field the following day by Malone. It was intended, according to Linburg’s licence application, for “…necessary test flying, racing and cross-country flying to and from meets”. Specifically, news reports stated that the aircraft was due to compete in the September Cleveland National air races, presumably with Malone as pilot since Linburg was a non-flyer. The R-1 seems to have been plagued by mechanical issues which led to it not participating in the 1938 Cleveland races but in early flights it reportedly reached speeds of 170mph for a build cost of $1200 in 1938 ($27,000 by 2025 values); Linburg hoped for a top speed of up to 220mph. Period newspapers describe Malone as a “veteran flyer” and Linburg as a sergeant “in the air division of the Missouri National Guard”.
Rebuilt with retractable main gear and named “The Imp”, the aircraft was re-engined with a 145hp Warner for the 1939 race season but again did not compete.
On 30 November 1943 the Linburg Special 1 was sold for £300 ($5500 in 2025) to 26 year-old Roland A Nippert of Affton, MO, apparently without its engine. On 17 December it was registered in his name, now as N479W. Nippert in turn sold it to Freddy W Hastings of St Louis on 7 April 1947, this time for just $75, or just $1000 by today’s value. On 18 April the aircraft was registered to Hastings, a WW2 veteran NCO of the 3rd Bombardment Group but sadly he was killed in a plane crash on 13 August 1947 and according to his mother the Special 1 was then sold “to friends of his” after her son’s demise.
An FAA file letter dated 13 July 1948 from HB Wilhoyte, Jr of Oklahoma City states that he had acquired the aircraft (presumably from Freddy Hastings’ mother) and was seeking specifications and weight & balance data. However no Bill of Sale was subsequently produced to complete FAA records and the aircraft’s registration was cancelled on 17 August 1950.
There is precious little information available regarding the Linburg Special 1, which seems not to have survived beyond the early 1950s. Can anyone add photos or further information?
The image below would appear to show Malone in the Special 1's cockpit while Linburg looks on at left.
The Special 1 had been granted an aircraft license in the Experimental category on 15 July 1938 and it was flown for the first time from Lambert Field the following day by Malone. It was intended, according to Linburg’s licence application, for “…necessary test flying, racing and cross-country flying to and from meets”. Specifically, news reports stated that the aircraft was due to compete in the September Cleveland National air races, presumably with Malone as pilot since Linburg was a non-flyer. The R-1 seems to have been plagued by mechanical issues which led to it not participating in the 1938 Cleveland races but in early flights it reportedly reached speeds of 170mph for a build cost of $1200 in 1938 ($27,000 by 2025 values); Linburg hoped for a top speed of up to 220mph. Period newspapers describe Malone as a “veteran flyer” and Linburg as a sergeant “in the air division of the Missouri National Guard”.
Rebuilt with retractable main gear and named “The Imp”, the aircraft was re-engined with a 145hp Warner for the 1939 race season but again did not compete.
On 30 November 1943 the Linburg Special 1 was sold for £300 ($5500 in 2025) to 26 year-old Roland A Nippert of Affton, MO, apparently without its engine. On 17 December it was registered in his name, now as N479W. Nippert in turn sold it to Freddy W Hastings of St Louis on 7 April 1947, this time for just $75, or just $1000 by today’s value. On 18 April the aircraft was registered to Hastings, a WW2 veteran NCO of the 3rd Bombardment Group but sadly he was killed in a plane crash on 13 August 1947 and according to his mother the Special 1 was then sold “to friends of his” after her son’s demise.
An FAA file letter dated 13 July 1948 from HB Wilhoyte, Jr of Oklahoma City states that he had acquired the aircraft (presumably from Freddy Hastings’ mother) and was seeking specifications and weight & balance data. However no Bill of Sale was subsequently produced to complete FAA records and the aircraft’s registration was cancelled on 17 August 1950.
There is precious little information available regarding the Linburg Special 1, which seems not to have survived beyond the early 1950s. Can anyone add photos or further information?