Regarding bailing out of a 1-26, many years ago, one of our club founders, Ed Seymour bailed out of a 1-26 after trying to do a roll and damaging a wing. He was almost hit by the spinning 1-26 after bailing out. Ed lived to tell about it so it can be done.

I have not tried this in flight, but if you release the 1-26 canopy latch and raise the canopy it may stay over to the side and allow egress from the 1-26. This can be done in a 2-33. After releasing the canopy latch, the 2-33 canopy will stay open to the side with no glider control problems. Ed Seymour would demonstrate this to students during instructional flights. As one of Ed Seymour's students I can attest that this demonstration keeps you wide awake.

Chuck Zabinski
"ZC"