Schweizer 1-26 question

Jim had 10 diamond distance flights in his 1-26. One flight exceeded 400 miles. Two ended in Indiana. All originated from the upper Midwest, most from Minneapolis MN area. There was one that started in North Dakota basically at the Canadian border and ended near Minneapolis. Following Cold Fronts in the spring.

There have been many (but not recently)Diamond Distance 1-26 flights flown northbound from Texas/NM, presumably along the dry line. I guess that is an atmospheric ridge...

The 1-26 Association website lists all known Diamond Distance and 400+ mile flights in the achievements section. www.126association.org

On Saturday, December 23, 2017 at 9:48:44 PM UTC-5, flgliderpilot wrote:
Yeah you see some great distances in 1-26's, but they are nearly always out west along a ridge.. with constant good lift. You'll never see these 500KM flights over here in Florida for example, going thermal to thermal at 2500' AGL.

There aren't any ridges out west that are comparable to running the Appalachians.

Speaking of flying 1-26 diamond distance flights out west, Doug Levy and three other guys ROUTINELY fly diamond distance flights from SO CA up along the Sierras over owens valley and into NV. Each year those guys put in two or three flights exceeding 300 miles and a few in the 400 mile range. Its done, its done regularly, and by multiple pilots who know what they are doing out west.

Thanks for the story.

I fly for a living so I get a few more hours airborne than most. I started soaring in the last few years and have become completely addicted to the sport. The addiction in part comes from the "pure flight" element for me. Getting back to stick and ruder flying and feeling at one nature which provides the challenges of soaring. I think owning and flying a 1-26 would provide endless fun and adventure. I think the limited performance of the 1-26 would make acquiring badges and records much more challenging and meaningful. And yes the various paint jobs brings out the personalities in each 1-26. They are a total blast to fly.

On Friday, March 29, 2013 1:40:48 PM UTC-4, wrote:
Back in the early 1960s my Dad attended the Schweizer Soaring School in Elmira, NY earning his glider rating as well as his A and B Badges. We were on our family vacation and I was just a tike but remember the field being busy with gliders coming and going. What made this especially fun was that there was this one fiery friendly candy machine that was more than happy to dispense Chuckles (one of my favorite candies) whether you fed it any money or not. dad was happy flying the gliders wholes I was getting fat and happy on the Chuckles. Anyway, while grounded I've been spending an inordinate amount of time searching the web for pictures and videos on gliders. I was wondering if there is anyone else out there who thinks that a 1-26 with just the right paint job is an absolutely beautiful looking little sailplane? I keep thinking that maybe I'd like to have one of those things! What do you guys think? Can a guy have fun with a simple sailplane like the 1-26 or do you have to buy glass to really enjoy the sport? Thank you for your input! Brian Lott

1-26's remain a very good way to have a lot of safe, challanging fun on a small budget.
AND- you get to have them in cool colors.
UH

On Friday, March 29, 2013 12:40:48 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Back in the early 1960s my Dad attended the Schweizer Soaring School in Elmira, NY earning his glider rating as well as his A and B Badges. We were on our family vacation and I was just a tike but remember the field being busy with gliders coming and going. What made this especially fun was that there was this one fiery friendly candy machine that was more than happy to dispense Chuckles (one of my favorite candies) whether you fed it any money or not. dad was happy flying the gliders wholes I was getting fat and happy on the Chuckles.
Get a 1-26 and fit it with a sport canopy (open cockpit)for more fun flying in the summer


Anyway, while grounded I've been spending an inordinate amount of time searching the web for pictures and videos on gliders. I was wondering if there is anyone else out there who thinks that a 1-26 with just the right paint job is an absolutely beautiful looking little sailplane? I keep thinking that maybe I'd like to have one of those things! What do you guys think? Can a guy have fun with a simple sailplane like the 1-26 or do you have to buy glass to really enjoy the sport?



Thank you for your input!



Brian Lott

, while grounded I've been spending an inordinate amount of time searching the web for pictures and videos on gliders. I was wondering if there is anyone else out there who thinks that a 1-26 with just the right paint job is an absolutely beautiful looking little sailplane? I keep thinking that maybe I'd like to have one of those things! What do you guys think? Can a guy have fun with a simple sailplane like the 1-26 or do you have to buy glass to really enjoy the sport?



Hi Brian, I purchased a 1-26 as my first glider so I could cut my leash to the airport. We were not allow to use gliport gliders for cross country. I had a great time attempting silver distance in my 1-26E... I ended up selling it only due to financial problems which eventually prevented me from being able to fly it. It was a great glider to fly, easy to set up, easy to transport, and easy to land in very small spaces.

The downside is if it is a blue sky day, with a breeze, forget about it! Any serious wind, unless you are planning a down winder, or working a ridge .... no way.

But, if you chose your conditions carefully it was a lot of fun.

I've been considering buying another just to get me through 200 hours due to the challenge and safety factor (very slow stall speed and metal construction), and then maybe something in glass. I have not decided yet but I have time, I'm still saving.

On Monday, November 27, 2017 at 11:06:03 AM UTC-8, flgliderpilot wrote:

I've been considering buying another just to get me through 200 hours due to the challenge and safety factor (very slow stall speed and metal construction), and then maybe something in glass. I have not decided yet but I have time, I'm still saving.

Don't let not having 200 hours in metal keep you from buy glass. I learned to fly gliders in a G-103, rented a fixed wheel G102 for maybe another ten hours then purchased glass, ASW-24. I thought standard class was a great way to learn and to learn XC. Got my badges in that std class glider, even an unofficial 1000k and most of my first 500 hours in gliders.

The 1-26 is good for your mental health. No more obsessing about badges and records. No more heartbreak about a scratch on the fuselage from a landout on a stubbly field. In fact, no more heartbreaks, period. If you are a born competitor, the 1-26 contests are just as intense as any high-rent glass can provide. It's all about flying, and the 1-26 loves to fly. It will outclimb a lot of expensive ships, and if it won't go as fast, so what? What's your hurry? If you need speed, what are you doing in a glider?

I guess I'll go against the grain, here. The 1-26 is, indeed, easy to fly, easy to tiedown outside, competitive within the 1-26 class, and safe (though, like most gliders, it will spin), etc. It's less expense and holds its value well. And you won't sweat a few minor scratches and even dents.

It's also easy to land off the airport, which is great because that's what you'll be doing frequently if you start flying cross country in it. You do learn a lot. But it can be a frustrating learning curve. It's also not as quick to rig/derig as more modern glass sailplanes often are so those unscheduled landings can be a little more work.

In a higher-performance glider, miss a thermal and you're slow. In a 1-26, miss a thermal and you're likely on the ground. Yes, the really good 1-26 pilots know how to make the glider do some remarkable things. But the average pilot can get discouraged after repeated landings, off and on the airport..

I flew and competed in a 1-26 for some years after solo and I did learn a lot that transferred over to higher-performance gliders. But unlike some pilots (1-26 maestro Ron Schwartz comes to mind) I was never tempted to fly it again after I made the switch.

There used to be 1-26 classes even at local contests (and there probably still are). But the big one of the year is the 1-26 national contest, which--like the other classes--rotates around the country. So unlike the FAI classes, there aren't a series of regional championships that are potentially closer to home in those years when the national contest is on the other side of the country. That's relevant only if you think you might be interested in competition.

The 1-26 is a nice first step. And for many it's an ideal glider. But like everything else in life, it's not perfect.

Chip Bearden