Daniel's First Flight in a Schweizer 1-26E, Sweet Red

This was his first solo flight in a glider other than a 2-33.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• glider
• aca
• blairstown
• sweet
• red
• schweizer
• sgs
• 1-26

[thewritingwriterof89]

did he hit the tail skid or something? what was that loud bang?

[SoarBird134]

He got too slow and dropped it in from a few feet high. Considering it was his first 1-26 flight and after only being used to flying 2-33, it's not a wonder he floated high and didn't expect the drop off. I think he touched tailwheel first which brought the main down. The bang was the metal resonating the tailwheel touching. It really sounds much worse than it actually was. The good news was that it was low energy landing and the equipment is still in one piece ;)

[K0S0s]

as you can see 1-26s are quite reseleant

[nmcowboy1983]

I remember before my first flight in a 1-26 my instructor had me sit there in the cockpit, he raised the nose up off the skid so glider was on it's main wheel, I made a mark on the canopy with a grease pencil in line with the horizon, made the landing transition from a 2-33 much easier, there is definitely a tendency to land it on the tail wheel, there isn't much wiggle room between the tail wheel, main wheel, and skid. Now I have an ASK-21, but fond memories of my days in a 1-26E N17907.

[helipilot727]

Nice job, no surprise you dropped it in, common mistake with the 1-26. Sure you've figured out by now to fly it to the ground with the brakes. BTW, I just bought a 1-26E, fun plane!

[helipilot727]

Congratulations on your solo! The goal is to land with no damage to yourself or the aircraft while fully intoxicated on the maximum dose of adrenaline! You did it! The landings get a lot easier when the adrenaline is not pumping like crazy!

[TheSoarer151]

@mosbysmen The 1-26 is much more maneuverable than the 2-33, so on tow you have to use less control input. It is also easy to PIO, on tow, though I have never had a problem with that. Lastly, since it is much lighter, turbulence affects the 1-26 much more and if the towplane tows at the same speed, it is a much rougher ride. Concerning landing, you have to take note that it is possible to land tailfirst, unlike the 2-33. Also, its spoilers are much more effective, which is a blessing.

[mosbysmen]

how would you compare flying the 1-26 on tow vs the 2-33 ?

how do the landings compare ?

i have only flown a 2-33

[TheSoarer151]

@Airsoftred The stall speed is in the low thirties (mph) though it shifts depending on the weight and the taping of the glider. Really, that is irrelevent since you should be landing based on pitch attitude rather than airspeed. I have noticed that when I float it out with little spoiler, I get the nose up to much. I guess if you dont over float it the first time you fly and just let it land earlier than you would in the 2-33, you should be fine

[TheSoarer151]

@Airsoftred I was the one flying it in the video. Basically, in the 2-33, you run out of elevator before you get a tail strike. In the 1-26, if you keep holding it off, it will eventually stall and drop in hard. In the video, being used to flying in the 2-33 for a very long time, at the point I decided to land, I pulled the spoilers expecting to be like an inch off the ground. It didnt touch and i just kept pulling back slamming the tail into the ground which was very hard in the winter...

[Airsoftred]

Oh wow, those things can sure get to a high nose up before stall! What's the stall speed in the 1-26? And was that just him touching the tail wheel down or did the wings stall? (I'm going to be in the same boat in about a week, only ever flown 2-33s, going for a few flights in a PW-5 dual for some longer range soaring then some personal stuff in a 1-26)

[roger6146]

Daniel: Great takeoff... and a great landing. There are higher performance gliders out there, but none beat the 1-26 for flying enjoyment!!