Schweizer SGU 1-2 explained

The Schweizer SGU 1-2 was a United States, amateur-built, single-seat, glider that was designed by Ernest Schweizer and constructed by the Mercury Glider Club between 1930 and 1931.[1] [2]

The 1-2 was the second a line of 38 glider designs that the Schweizers created and the first of over 5700 aircraft built by them.[2] [3] [4]

Design and development

The success of the Schweizer SGP 1-1 as a club glider in the summer of 1930 convinced the Schweizers and the Mercury Glider Club to build an improved glider with better performance for the following year.[2] [3]

The 1-2 was flown by the Mercury Glider Club in the summer of 1931. That club later became the Hudson Valley Soaring Club and continued to operate the glider. The HVSC used the 1-2 as a training glider while they used the prototype Schweizer SGU 1-7 for soaring[1]

Operational history

The club named the 1-2 "The Brick", a reference to its low performance. The sole 1-2 built did not survive and there are no examples available today.[1]

The success of the 1-1 and the 1-2 led the Schweizer brothers to continue on to design and build improved gliders, including a single SGU 1-3 the following year and to form the Schweizer Metal Aircraft Company.[1] [2]

Notes and References

  1. Schweizer, Paul A: Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring in the United States, page 91. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1988.
  2. Web site: Schweizer Aircraft Corporation History. 2008-05-02. Schweizer Aircraft Corporation. 2006. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080310204514/http://www.sacusa.com/corporate/history.asp. 2008-03-10.
  3. Web site: SGP 1-1 Primary Glider. 2008-05-02. Martin. Thomas J.. October 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20090203170121/http://tmrcsailplanes.com/schweizer-1-1-model.html . 3 February 2009.
  4. Web site: Directory of Airplanes. 2008-05-03. Smithsonian Institution . 2004.