The Schweizer SGU 1-6 was a United States Open
Class
Class or The Class may refer to:
Common uses not otherwise categorized
* Class (biology), a taxonomic rank
* Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects
* Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used differentl ...
, single-seat, high-wing, pod-and-boom glider built by
Schweizer Metal Aircraft Company
The Schweizer Aircraft Corporation was an American manufacturer of sailplanes, agricultural aircraft and helicopters located in Horseheads, New York. It was incorporated in 1939 by three Schweizer brothers (Paul, William, and Ernest), who bu ...
of
Elmira, New York.
The sole SGU 1-6 built was completed in 1937 as an experimental aircraft and registered N17897. The design was never certified.
Design and development
Schweizer Aircraft started construction of the 1-6 prototype in 1937. The aircraft was built to compete in the Eaton Design Contest held in conjunction with the 8th US National Gliding Championships. This competition was open to any new American glider design that had not been flown at a previous National Championship. The rules required drawings and stress analysis data to be presented with the completed aircraft. The intention was that the winning design would be made available as drawings and kits for
amateur construction and that
Bureau of Air Commerce
The Air Commerce Act of 1926 created an Aeronautic Branch of the United States Department of Commerce. Its functions included testing and licensing of pilots, certification of aircraft and investigation of accidents.
In 1934, the Aeronautics Bran ...
design approval would be eventually obtained as well.
The winners of the contest and the cash prizes won were:
*First – US$700 – ABC Sailplane, Arthur B Schultz, designer
*Second – US$500 – Ross RS-1 Zanonia Sailplane, Harland Ross, designer
*Third – US$300 – SGU 1-6 Utility Glider,
Ernst and Paul Schweizer, designers
The SGU was the first all-metal glider built. It was an unusual design with a high-mounted strut-braced wing and a tube-style boom ending in a cruciform tail. The design was intended to be simple and cheap to produce.
None of the winning designs in the Eaton Contest proved to be as easy to construct as was envisioned by the contest organizers and the lessons learned from the contest lead the
Schweizer brothers to start with a clean sheet design for their next effort. This new design would achieve the aims that the 1937 Eaton Contest gliders failed to make.
The subsequent
Schweizer SGU 1-7
The Schweizer SGU 1-7 is an American Open Glider competition classes, Class, single-seat, high-wing strut braced glider built by Schweizer Metal Aircraft Company of Elmira, New York.Said, Bob: ''1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine'', page ...
lead to the successful
Schweizer SGU 1-19
The Schweizer SGU 1-19 and Schweizer SGU 1-20 are a family of United States single-seat, high-wing, strut-braced, utility gliders built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York.Schweizer, Paul A: ''Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring in ...
which, with two seats installed, grew into the
Schweizer SGU 2-22 trainer and finally the
Schweizer SGS 2-33
The Schweizer SGS 2-33 is an American two-seat, high-wing, strut-braced, training glider that was built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York.Schweizer, Paul A: ''Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring in the United States'', pages 227- ...
.
[Said, Bob: ''1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine'', pages 26-30. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920]
Operational history
The SGU 1-6 was not actually flown in competition, despite being designed for the 1937 US Nationals and being present at the competition.
The Schweizer brothers were all pilots of low experience in 1937 and had hoped to have a well-known pilot fly the 1-6 in the US Nationals. Top soaring pilot
Jack O'Meara was attending the competition and did not have a sailplane to fly. The Schweizers offered O'Meara the use of the 1-6 for the contest, hoping that he would score well flying it and thus promote the design.
O'Meara declined the loan of the 1-6, hoping to secure a higher performing aircraft instead, in more keeping with his status as a competitive pilot and so the 1-6 did not fly in the Nationals.
The sole SGU 1-6 built no longer exists. Its
FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...
registration number, N17897, now belongs, appropriately enough, to a
Schweizer SGS 2-33
The Schweizer SGS 2-33 is an American two-seat, high-wing, strut-braced, training glider that was built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York.Schweizer, Paul A: ''Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring in the United States'', pages 227- ...
.
See also
References
{{Schweizer aircraft
1930s United States sailplanes
Schweizer aircraft
High-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1937