The 1-26 Association | Curt Lewis #216 & #300 | Favorites

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:37:10 -0700

I finally got to make the first flight in my new 1-26B, serial number 299 on March 1, 2026 at Chilhowee Gliderport in Tennessee (my home airport). I made two flights that day. The first was 19 minutes and I released at 3200 AGL...basically a quick shakedown to see how it handled since I have never flown a 1-26 before this flight. You know, the proverbial sled ride! It went so well that I took her up again but released at 2300 AGL. This time I accidentally stumbled into a thermal off a chicken barn, I'm guessing, just as I was getting ready to enter the pattern. So I made about 30 circles there, and managed a 30 minute flight. I'm a fairly newly minted add-on glider rated private pilot. 48 years as a taildragger powered pilot and I was looking for something new to do in aviation. I've got a grand total of about 21 hours in gliders now. I am really looking forward to a lot of summer flying this year in my 1-26. My wife even captured my first landing...no go around required! Scott Littfin Maryville, TN

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:31:57 -0700

I finally got to make the first flight in my new 1-26B, serial number 299 on March 1, 2026 at Chilhowee Gliderport in Tennessee (my home airport). I made two flights that day. The first was 19 minutes and I released at 3200 AGL…basically a quick shakedown to see how it handled since I have never flown a 1-26 before this flight. You know, the…Read More

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:20:08 -0800

After attending the 2025 1-26 Championships at the Merlin Airport, I knew the 1-26 was for me. So, I started my quest to find one upon my return home to Tennessee. I figured a D or E model would be my only real choice as I'm on the heavier side and felt these would have the best useful load. I didn't think it would take very long to find one, so I started dieting shortly after returning home. About a month after getting home, I was contacted by an owner that had one for sale within about 6 hours of home. He had some FAA paperwork to get in order before he could sell it. As with most government things, that turned out to take more time than one would desire, but it was finally ready by September. My wife and I drove over to see it. The owner was very gracious and forthright about everything. We had a nice conversation over the course of a Saturday in less than stellar weather conditions. I really hoped to be able to see it fly before I made a decision. Since I don't have my glider rating add-on yet, he would have to fly it. Low and behold, the weather broke enough late Saturday morning and he took a short flight to prove it could indeed fly. And fly it did! That said, there were a few minor cosmetic issues and we decided it wasn't for me. Dejected, we drove home Sunday trailerless and planeless. Fast forward to October. My wife and I spent a couple days at the Octoberfest festivities at Chilhowee (our home gliderport). Jason and Sarah have been teaching me to fly gliders and I'm taking my check ride this weekend (Nov. 1st, 2025). While we were sitting around in the fabulous weather and watching people soar, Jason stole my wife and told her he had something to show her and couldn't tell anyone but me. When my wife found me later, she took me to show me what Jason had up his sleeve. He told her a guy was selling his 1-26! It was in the hangar and based right at my home field! The only negative issue is there is no trailer, but that's OK as it's in the hangar at Chilhowee and will be staying there. I am actively looking for a trailer. I looked it over and went through the logbooks (all logs since it's maiden flight, 5 in total!). Like all planes, there was some stuff that shows it was a flyer, not a hangar queen, but it looked damn nice for a 60 year old airplane. Way better than I looked at 60. Anyway, Sarah called the owner to warn him I would be calling. We talked on the phone for about 30 minutes and came to a deal. He said Sarah vouched for me and offered to let me send a personal check and an FAA Form 8050-2 Bill of Sale I'd filled out, so all he had to do was fill in his information and mail it back to me. The diet is working...I've lost about 14 pounds so far with very casual dieting. That puts me at 206. My glider is a 1-26B with a max pilot weight of 214. Close, but I'm under! I will be continuing to diet and hope to get down to 180-185 by the summer flying season. If I can find a trailer, I'd love to bring it to the Championships up by Chicago in 2026. Interesting note...it is serial number 299, just one before Curt Lewis' Neil Armstrong ship! If only Neil would have been at the factory a day earlier! Scott "Chilhowee"

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:13:08 -0700

After attending the 2025 1-26 Championships at the Merlin Airport, I knew the 1-26 was for me. So, I started my quest to find one upon my return home to Tennessee. I figured a D or E model would be my only real choice as I’m on the heavier side and felt these would have the best useful load. I didn’t think it would take very long to find one,…Read More

I would like to reach out to the community for detailed pictures of cockpit seating/flooring and instrument panels arrangements of A,B,C models as in undergoing the restoration of A model s/n 054 I don’t have any reference to such as there was nothing inside the cockpit area when I started this restoration. Any info, and pics would greatly be appreciated Thank You “Keep em Flying”

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 14:27:58 -0700

I would like to reach out to the community for detailed pictures of cockpit seating/flooring and instrument panels arrangements of A,B,C models as in undergoing the restoration of A model s/n 054 I don’t have any reference to such as there was nothing inside the cockpit area when I started this restoration. Any info, and pics would greatly be a…Read More

Hello everyone, My name is Doug Remoundos and I am a new member to the 1-26 Association. I started flying in gliders at 14 years of age, many decades ago on a Schweizer 2-22. My first single seat sailplane was a 1-26, which I have many fond memories flying. I eventually turned my love of flying into a career and with that, life got in the way. Fast forward 45 years and retirement, I rekindled my love of gliding. I joined this group because the 1-26 was on my mind through the years and because of that, I'm thinking of partnering with a club member or two in a 1-26 for a fun sailplane. (not many available in my area at this time). I'm looking forward to learning more about this bird, and possibly owning one. Cheers, Doug Remoundos Point Claire, Quebec Canada

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:05:27 -0700

Hello everyone,

My name is Doug Remoundos and I am a new member to the 1-26 Association.
I started flying in gliders at 14 years of age, many decades ago on a Schweizer 2-22. My first single seat sailplane was a 1-26, which I have many fond memories flying.
I eventually turned my love of flying into a career and with that, life got in the…Read More

I am George Lessard. I am a PhD Biochemist and taught from High School to Graduate School. When I was teaching in Mountain View, CA, the father of one of my students was a CFIG and worked at Sky Sailing, across the bay. I got a flight in a 2-22 and shifted my interest from power to sailplanes. In about 1970 I bought a share in 1-26 #194 (now in the Albequerque museum. In 1975 I bought #222 and have flown it off and on, buying it and selling it some 5 or 6 times. I formed Archaeoptryx Aeroworks (Old, Almost Prehistoric) to work on fabric aircraft. I have around 20,000 qualiflying airframe repair hours (38 aircraft repair and rebuild-no A&P). I think I have had 6 1-26, from #019 through #460. Unfortunately I didn't do as well as my friend, Jim Neff who did all his diamonds in a 1-26 in a year. I cheated (2-33 and Libelle). The FAA cheated, and did not hold a broken Grob tailcone against me so gave me the Wright Master Pilot Award. When I sold my motorglider in 2023, at 85, I had to find some way to avoid discouragement and dyspepsia, and was given a crapped out 2-22C airframe. By the time I got i home I knew it could not be rebuilt. Talking to Schweizers, who I had worked with for years, they offered to trade some 1-35 parts for a perfect 2-22 airframe, just needing a little TLC. I drove the 8000 miles (trailer stories abound) and brought home SN 030. When I opened the boxes with the parts for the fuselage, everything was missing. Fortunately; the C and the straight (and all 1-19s, 2-33s) are built on the same jig. So parts from the C allowed me to build the straight 2-22. So guess what! I bought 1-26 SN 222 back from Jim Neff and I will be the only guy who owns a fleet of 222's! Both have the logo "Redlands, CA world's finest navels". 1-26 #222 and 2-22 #030 with the registration 1222S....hey why not!

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 04:47:09 -0800

I am George Lessard. I am a PhD Biochemist and taught from High School to Graduate School. When I was teaching in Mountain View, CA, the father of one of my students was a CFIG and worked at Sky Sailing, across the bay. I got a flight in a 2-22 and shifted my interest from power to sailplanes. In about 1970 I bought a share in 1-26 #194 (now…Read More

I just finished constructing a wing wheel for use with S/N 263. A while back, Milton Moos sent me photos of a wing wheel he built. His design incorporated the original Schweizer wing tip wheels, but S/N 263 doesn't have those; I have wing skids. So, his design wouldn’t work for my glider. I settled on a ‘clam shell’ design, which I modified repeatedly as I built the wing wheel. I'm pretty happy with my final design; the wing wheel fits snugly and doesn't move around on the wing at all. A lot of that has to do with a 'pocket' I added that the wing skid slips into. This keeps the wing wheel very stable. I do have a minor concern; under the key lime green paint on the fork and wheel rim, which were obtained from a little girl's bike I bought for $10, is ‘My Little Pony’ pink paint. I’m going to be doing a lot of touch-up painting if too much of the pink starts to come thru due to scratches and chips.

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 03:55:36 -0700

I just finished constructing a wing wheel for use with S/N 263. A while back, Milton Moos sent me photos of a wing wheel he built. His design incorporated the original Schweizer wing tip wheels, but S/N 263 doesn’t have those; I have wing skids. So, his design wouldn’t work for my glider. I settled on a ‘clam shell’ design, which I modif…Read More

Hello, I’m the new owner of 466. I live in Ft Stockton (way west Tx). 466 is in reasonable good shape, last annual was in 2009. Can anyone point me to an ANP that knows 1-26s and could give me an in depth annual and inspection? I call Robert Mudd but he is retired. I really would like to get 466 back in the air. Thks Dale Briscoe

Tue, 23 May 2023 18:23:02 -0700

Hello, I’m the new owner of 466. I live in Ft Stockton (way west Tx). 466 is in reasonable good shape, last annual was in 2009. Can anyone point me to an ANP that knows 1-26s and could give me an in depth annual and inspection? I call Robert Mudd but he is retired. I really would like to get 466 back in the air. Thks Dale Briscoe

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 21:12:07 -0800

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 16:11:33 -0800

Hi all - joined the group a few weeks ago. I bought N7724S ( #424) from Hood River Soaring in February 2022. The pic is in Ephrata WA where we (Evergreen Soaring) fly several weeks per year (I live on the West side Sedro Woolley WA). I got my Commercial Glider ticket at Arizona Soaring in 2020 then flew their 1-26 a few times. Loved it so much I bought one:-) Logged 21 hours 57 minutes my first year. Hope to maybe make it to the Championships in May.

Sat, 12 Nov 2022 05:11:34 -0800

Hi all – joined the group a few weeks ago. I bought N7724S ( #424) from Hood River Soaring in February 2022. The pic is in Ephrata WA where we (Evergreen Soaring) fly several weeks per year (I live on the West side Sedro Woolley WA). I got my Commercial Glider ticket at Arizona Soaring in 2020 then flew their 1-26 a few times. Loved it so…Read More

Flew at Wurtsboro on 8/11 in their E Model #628. in the two hour flight I wore out one vario battery but still managed a 10 mile out and return at over 6,000 msl. Looking for ways to have members do 1-26 write ups on their flight, no matter how modest compared to some others. Ideas for the newsletter coming up are flight reports, 1-26 pilot interviews on all aspects of 1-26 activity, restorations and first flights of same, club activities like the Mohawk Soaring in N Addams, MA having a 70th Anniversary get together September 10-11 including vintage Schweizer gliders, and much more. I will fit in all I can. Thanks one and all. Paul Esser editor@126association.org

Sat, 13 Aug 2022 21:46:45 -0700

Flew at Wurtsboro on 8/11 in their E Model #628. in the two hour flight I wore out one vario battery but still managed a 10 mile out and return at over 6,000 msl. Looking for ways to have members do 1-26 write ups on their flight, no matter how modest compared to some others. Ideas for the newsletter coming up are flight reports, 1-26 pilot…Read More

S/N 263, aka 'Glamour Girl' returned to the air yesterday, July 29th. There was good lift in the area. Glamour Girl's wings were talking to me, and that only happens in strong lift. It was a beautiful day for soaring! Two more flights were completed today - it's good to have S/N 263 flying again.

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 05:54:44 -0700

S/N 263, aka ‘Glamour Girl’ returned to the air yesterday, July 29th. There was good lift in the area. Glamour Girl’s wings were talking to me, and that only happens in strong lift. It was a beautiful day for soaring! Two more flights were completed today – it’s good to have S/N 263 flying again.

cloudbaseengineering posted an update in the group 1-26 Association Official

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 21:18:30 -0700

Hello All
I just joined. I bought Serial number 390 in an online auction in Apple Valley CA. I am in Burbank CA and will drive out to pick it up after the holiday.

Looking forward to learn lots from this group. Flew sailplanes in the 90s and bit again about 15 years ago. Also fly a C182p

Marc

Finally got our little "Sundbird", #182, into the air on Saturday. Partners Alice Palmer, Deb Ings and Mark Palmer got in short flights. Still tweaking to do on the seat, the radio and the vario, but she flies!

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 22:31:28 -0700

Finally got our little “Sundbird”, #182, into the air on Saturday. Partners Alice Palmer, Deb Ings and Mark Palmer got in short flights. Still tweaking to do on the seat, the radio and the vario, but she flies!

During the last Annual Inspection of S/N 263 (nicknamed 'Glamour Girl', because she's good looking, and has a round tail), the IA noticed that a few of the rivets on the leading edge wing panel alongside the fuselage were starting to pull through the sheet metal. This was happening on both on the upper and lower surfaces of the wing. He said this didn't need to be addressed immediately, but I found an AP who said he could easily replace these ten or so rivets during the winter months. Since S/N 263 was going to be in the shop, I decided to have the shelf kit from K & L Soaring installed, new Hooker shoulder harnesses installed, the crotch strap from K & L Soaring installed, and a transponder/ADS-B Out package from Craggy Aero installed. As it turned out, replacing the ten or so rivets has been the biggest part of the project. At some point during the last 58 years, there was an undocumented repair to the left wing. The wrong rivets were used to re-attach the wing panel. Per the mechanic, those rivets were going to fail, which is what was happening. So, the entire wing panel had to be removed, which uncovered a cracked rib with a 'sort-of' patch. Three new ribs were ordered from K & L Soaring, along with a new wing panel and two access panels to allow the proper riveting to be done. The new ribs are in the process of being installed. The mechanic also noticed that the left aileron push rod had a fairly deep groove worn across it, probably due to vibrating against a frame member in the wing while being trailered. K & L said this is a known issue, but they no longer make new aileron push rods for older model 1-26's. The mechanic purchased a new 12' long aluminum tube, which will be machined to accept the original fittings on each end of the push rod. Once all of this is done, and the new wing panel is installed with the correct rivets, the new wing panel will be painted, and I'll finally get S/N 263 back in the air. I've sat in the cockpit to try out the new harnesses. The crotch strap is marvelous - I can cinch everything tightly without the lap assembly being pulled up onto my stomach. It's very secure, and I'm certain that I've bumped the canopy with the top of my head for the last time!

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 19:25:30 -0700

During the last Annual Inspection of S/N 263 (nicknamed ‘Glamour Girl’, because she’s good looking, and has a round tail), the IA noticed that a few of the rivets on the leading edge wing panel alongside the fuselage were starting to pull through the sheet metal. This was happening on both on the upper and lower surfaces of the wing. He said…Read More

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 23:16:13 -0700

Good Morning Everyone!

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 18:17:08 -0800

Good Morning Everyone!