I did find the following info ... according to the original definition,
a 1-26 is a sailplane ... so I don't want any static about having a
link to the 1-26 Association on the SRA page. :-)

http://www.greeleynet.com/~jhpc/FAQ.doc

Frequently Asked Questions about Gliders and Soaring
by John H. Campbell, SSA Youth Committee

What is the proper term for the aircraft--Glider or Sailplane?
Either, mainly "glider". A glider is any motorless aircraft, this is
the generic and colloquial term used by sailplane pilots themselves.
The word "sailplane" came about in the 1920s to distinguish refined
gliders (glide ratios over 20:1) from "secondary" (over 10:1) and lowly
"primary" training gliders. Since the 1970s, the term has been useful
to mark a distinction from hang-gliders. In the USA, "glider" is the
FAA aircraft category designation for sailplanes and motorgliders
(motorized sailplanes