The Schweizer SGS 1-24, also referred to as the Schweizer-Burr SGS 1-24, is a United States single-seat, mid-wing, Open Class competition

glider Glider may refer to: Aircraft and transport Aircraft * Glider (aircraft), heavier-than-air aircraft primarily intended for unpowered flight ** Glider (sailplane), a rigid-winged glider aircraft with an undercarriage, used in the sport of glidin ...

built by Howard Burr and

Schweizer Aircraft 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 bui ...

Elmira, New York Elmira () is a city and the county seat of Chemung County, New York, United States. It is the principal city of the Elmira, New York, metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses Chemung County. The population was 26,523 at the 2020 cens ...

.Said, Bob: ''1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine'', page 30. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920 The 1-24 is a development of the

Schweizer SGS 1-23 The Schweizer SGS 1-23 is a United States Open and Standard Class, single-seat, mid-wing glider built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York. The original "standard" 1-23 was introduced in 1948. The aircraft quickly became the most numerous ...

that utilized a 1-23 fuselage and a newly constructed set of span, high aspect ratio wings. The aircraft was constructed as a spare time project by Howie Burr and

Ernest Schweizer Paul, William (Bill), and Ernest Schweizer were three brothers who started building gliders in 1930. In 1937, they formed the Schweizer Metal Aircraft Company. Their first commercial glider sale was an SGU 1-7 glider to Harvard University's Alto ...

to produce a competition sailplane. The aircraft first flew in 1953 and one example was completed.

Design and development

The early 1950s were the heyday of the SGS 1-23 design. From the time of its introduction in 1948, the production sailplane had dominated soaring contests in the USA.

employee Howie Burr conceived of creating an improved version of the 1-23 by using the existing fuselage and building a set of 17.10:1 aspect ratio wings for the aircraft. The span wings gave the aircraft a 30:1 glide ratio and a low minimum sink speed. Those performance figures are identical to the 1-23D. Burr finished the aircraft in his spare time, flying it first in early 1953. The 1-24 was ready for competition flying in time for the 1953 US Nationals, which were held at Harris Hill, New York. The 1-24 design was never certified and the sole aircraft that was built is an experimental aircraft in the "racing, exhibition" class and registered as N91888. The 1-24 is of all metal construction, including

aluminum Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. It has ...

wings. The design incorporated some innovative concepts in addition to the high aspect ratio wing. It had a shuttle weight that could be moved by cable through the length of the tail that allowed the glider to be trimmed anywhere between and .

Operational history

The 1-24 was given the name ''

Brigadoon ''Brigadoon'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, and music by Frederick Loewe. The song " Almost Like Being in Love", from the musical, has become a standard. It features two American tourists who stumble upon Brigadoon, a ...

'' by Howie Burr, after the popular musical stage play and film of the same name. Burr entered the 1-24 in the 1953 US Nationals and the Snowbird meet held at Harris Hill over Thanksgiving, 1955. In the Snowbird meet, Burr flew the 1-24 to second place against a field of 25 sailplanes.Schweizer, Paul A: ''Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring in the United States'', page 150. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1988. The 1-24 was loaned to Paul A. Schweizer to compete in the 1957 US Nationals, which were held in

. Burr was unable to fly the 1-24 in that contest himself, as he was contest director. Paul Schweizer did not complete the competition as his father died during the contest and he withdrew.Schweizer, Paul A: ''Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring in the United States'', page 161. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1988. In 1969, the 1-24 was sold to Carl Waters and moved to

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

. Burr later re-purchased the aircraft from Waters and carried out a complete restoration of it, including the original name "Brigadoon".

Accidents

The 1-24 was substantially damaged on 25 May 1996 at landing at the

Mountain Valley Airport Mountain Valley Airport is a privately owned public-use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) southeast of the central business district of Tehachapi, in Kern County, California, United States. The airport is used for glider operations a ...

Tehachapi, California Tehachapi (; Kawaiisu: ''Tihachipia'', meaning "hard climb") is a city in Kern County, California, United States, in the Tehachapi Mountains, at an elevation of , between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert. Tehachapi is east-southeast ...

when it collided with two other parked gliders.

Aircraft on display

The 1-24 was initially loaned to the National Soaring Museum,

and later title was transferred to the museum. It is currently on long-term loan at the

Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum The Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum (WOTR) is located on the former Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, United States. The museum preserves the history of Lowry AFB's operations from 1938 to 1994 in its collections, archives, and ...

Denver, Colorado Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

Specifications

References

External links

Photo of the SGS 1-24 "Brigadoon"
{{Schweizer aircraft 1950s United States sailplanes Schweizer aircraft Mid-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1953