1-26 corrosion humid environments (was first glider)?

[tstock]

I had been browsing 1-26's looking for my first glider and had a few
sellers tell me the 1-26 would not be happy in Florida due to the
humid environment.

Is this because the fuselage frame is made from steel rather than
aluminum and prone to rusting?

I know there are plenty of 1-26's here in Florida and I had never
heard of this problem until now...

But, in case you are wondering, I have decided that it may be better
to save another $6K and get something with a 30+:1 glide ratio than to
try to sell the 1-26 later when I am ready for something with better
performance. Laying in bed I realized that 20:1 glide radio is only
twice that of a Cessna 172! Ouch. Ultimately I would like to fly
cross country... I tend to get bored flying around the airport.

I admit I am attracted to the "one class" and simplicity of the 1-26
so I have not ruled it out completely... decided I will keep saving
money while trying to decide, however, the closer I get to $16,000USD,
the less appealing the 1-26 becomes.

Thanks
Tom

[BobW]

On 5/13/2011 9:39 AM, tstock wrote:
> I had been browsing 1-26's looking for my first glider and had a few
> sellers tell me the 1-26 would not be happy in Florida due to the
> humid environment.
>
> Is this because the fuselage frame is made from steel rather than
> aluminum and prone to rusting?
>
> I know there are plenty of 1-26's here in Florida and I had never
> heard of this problem until now...
>
> But, in case you are wondering, I have decided that it may be better
> to save another $6K and get something with a 30+:1 glide ratio than to
> try to sell the 1-26 later when I am ready for something with better
> performance. Laying in bed I realized that 20:1 glide radio is only
> twice that of a Cessna 172! Ouch. Ultimately I would like to fly
> cross country... I tend to get bored flying around the airport.
>
> I admit I am attracted to the "one class" and simplicity of the 1-26
> so I have not ruled it out completely... decided I will keep saving
> money while trying to decide, however, the closer I get to $16,000USD,
> the less appealing the 1-26 becomes.
>
> Thanks
> Tom

Ruh roh!! The dreaded FUD rears its ugly head. (That's "Fear Uncertainty
Doubt"; it's an ugly cousin to "buyer's remorse".)

Cons to ALL the glider materials:
- aircraft steel rusts;
- aluminum oxidizes;
- magnesium burns;
- all fatigue;
- UV is hard on paints/fabrics/gel-coats/skin;
- composites break.

Much safer & cheaper to remain on the ground!

Okay...wry broad-brush humor aside, here's how I've long handled such puzzlers
as, "...had a few sellers tell me the 1-26 would not be happy in Florida due
to the humid environment." Relentlessly ask those who propound such things,
"Why do you say that?" until all the answers are clear to you, and - ideally -
make good engineering/physical sense. Some, of course, never will. Then apply
your own best judgment.

WRT 'Florida 1-26-es' contact guys like Harry Senn for their (informed, at
many levels) input.

As for XC flying of 1-26-es, take a gander at the badge pages of "Soaring"
magazines from (say) 1965 through 1975, for a great idea of what
'non-abbie-normal' (which is to say everyday, Joe-Six-Pack dudes and dudette
pilots like me and you) routinely did with 1-26-es before fiberglass came
along to make everyone realize XC was impossible in 1-26-es. So what if none
of those pilots had any fun along the way?!?

If you find the 1-26 you want for $16,000, I'll sell you one in excellent
condition, on 'the usual generic' (also in decent condition) open trailer, for
less than half that. So will a lot of other people, I'll bet.

Have fun!

Bob W.

P.S. Any so-so time aloft beats most Really Good Times on the ground,
hands-down. So don't sweat the fact that - if you stick with the silly sport
for any time at all, say several years or more - you're almost certainly sure
to 'outgrow' your entry level of ship performance (though not all do...and no
one can know for certain where they'll end up 'attitudinally speaking'
regarding their 'ideal level of glider performance' until gaining some real
world experiences). The 'outgrow' part is as true for a glass bird as much as
it is for a 1-26, unless you can afford to buy the latest and greatest plastic
plane...most of the performance of which will be *way* beyond your existing
skills anyway. It's just the nature of the soaring beast. Assuming you pay a
fair price for a used ship to begin with, and don't 'prematurely age' it,
you'll likely be able sell it for what you have in it, along the way to your
next ship. Know yourself as well as possible, buy something, then go enjoy it!!!

[Brian[_1_]]

I can confirm that the 1-26's up through the C model are not as happy
living outside (anywhere) as many of us were led to believe.

My 1st glider was a 1-26C. I flew it for one summer and then recovered
the fuselage. In the process I found that over 1/3 of the tubes in the
fuselage had rusted complete through in places. This was only obvious
once I began sand blasting the tubes and was able to blast right
through them. The issue appears to be where the cockpit skin is
riveted to the tubes. When the plane is left out side rain and or
condensation forms on the side of the skin and will find a loose
rivet to enter into the inside of the tubes. it will then run all the
way back to the tail inside the lower tubes and rust the tubes from
the inside out. After replacing the damaged tubes and restoring the
fuselage to better than new condition I flew it for a couple more
years.

I loved my 1-26 and probably would have kept it if I had had other
1-26's to fly with. But since everyone else here was flying 15 meter/
standard class ships I moved up to the HP16T when one became available
locally for only a little more than my 1-26 was worth.

Brian

[Jim Beckman[_2_]]

At 15:39 13 May 2011, tstock wrote:

> Laying in bed I realized that 20:1 glide radio is only
>twice that of a Cessna 172! Ouch. Ultimately I would like to fly
>cross country... I tend to get bored flying around the airport.

Did someone tell you that XC is impossible in a 1-26? They
were lying (or perhaps laying, since they may be chickens).
Of course it's possible. And it's fun. Check out what happens
starting on June 1 in Indiana.

And of course remember the biggest advantage of XC in
the 1-26: The retrieves are generally much shorter.

>I admit I am attracted to the "one class" and simplicity of the 1-26
>so I have not ruled it out completely... decided I will keep saving
>money while trying to decide, however, the closer I get to $16,000USD,
>the less appealing the 1-26 becomes.

Where did that number come from? You can have a nice
1-26 for half that.

Jim Beckman

[Tony[_5_]]

> And of course remember the biggest advantage of XC in
> the 1-26: *The retrieves are generally much shorter.

I think anyone who has crewed for Jim Hard would be to differ...

[tstock]

o $16,000USD,
> >the less appealing the 1-
> Where did that number come from? *You can have a nice
> 1-26 for half that.
>
> Jim Beckman

Hi sorry should have been more clear. I saved about $8000 for a 1-26
but while looking for a good 1-26d or e, I continued saving.. Now
getting to 11k, I see that if I can get to $16k there are many more
options... So do I go for a 1-26 in excellent condition for 10k or
less, or a glass ship which could need some work and time for 16k...

Tom

[Tony[_5_]]

> Hi sorry should have been more clear. *I saved about $8000 for a 1-26
> but while looking for a good 1-26d or e, I continued saving.. Now
> getting to 11k, I see that if I can get to $16k there are many more
> options... So do I go for a 1-26 in excellent condition for 10k or
> less, or a glass ship which could need some work and time for 16k...
>
> Tom

one thing to consider is how much flying you are missing out on by
waiting to save more. another consideration is that odds are a 1-26
is going to be worth about the same in a few years as it is now. same
goes for that 15-20K club class glider that you have your eye on.
There are several D's for sale now on the 1-26 classifieds.
http://www.126association.org/index.php?page=classfid#Planes

buy the 1-26 now, fly it. if you like it great if you still want 30:1
(hey i don't blame you) in a few years sell the 1-26 and buy that
libelle.

[tstock]

On May 13, 5:50*pm, Tony > wrote:
> > Hi sorry should have been more clear. *I saved about $8000 for a 1-26
> > but while looking for a good 1-26d or e, I continued saving.. Now
> > getting to 11k, I see that if I can get to $16k there are many more
> > options... So do I go for a 1-26 in excellent condition for 10k or
> > less, or a glass ship which could need some work and time for 16k...
>
> > Tom
>
> one thing to consider is how much flying you are missing out on by
> waiting to save more. *another consideration is that odds are a 1-26
> is going to be worth about the same in a few years as it is now. same
> goes for that 15-20K club class glider that you have your eye on.
> There are several D's for sale now on the 1-26 classifieds.http://www.126association.org/index.php?page=classfid#Planes
>
> buy the 1-26 now, fly it. if you like it great if you still want 30:1
> (hey i don't blame you) in a few years sell the 1-26 and buy that
> libelle.

Sound advice and this is what I was thinking.. The first few years I
am trying to gain experience and a 1-26 would be a good plane for the
first 100 or so hours... Especially for those first few out landings.

[Tony[_5_]]

> Sound advice and this is what I was thinking.. The first few years I
> am trying to gain experience and a 1-26 would be a good plane for the
> first 100 or so hours... Especially for those first few out landings.

Sounds like a plan, go for it before someone tries to talk you out of
it. The season is upon us!