wrote:
Hi,

I ran across an article in Soaring about the Zanonia RS-1. Does anyone
know if it is in a museum somewhere, or where it is?

Thanks,
John

John,

Here's an old data point...

Way back when (in 1975), in my relatively feckless youth, while on my
very-first-ever soaring vacation (what a concept!), I was privileged
(well before I knew I was) to see the RS-1 being flown at a camp in
Hailey, Idaho. Back then it sported a sparkling red and white paint
scheme, and though my relatively uneducated-soaring-eyes knew it was an
older ship, I then had no idea it had been built (and become famous) in
the late 1930's. My ignorance probably saved its owner at the time
(name forgotten, sigh) from a world-class pestering. At least I do have
some old slides of it from those days...somewhere.

I haven't seen it since, and don't know of its current whereabouts or
status, though nearly 20 years later I did have occasion (and was
privileged) to meet and interview John(ny) Robinson, America's first
3-diamond pilot, and the man who brought the RS-1 to many Americans'
attention. Regrettably, I never had the opportunity to meet its
designer/builder, Harland Ross.

I was sorry to learn on this visit to RAS that another of Harland's
generation recently passed - Jack Laister. I realize not everyone who
loves to soar has serious interest in its history, but to a greater or
lesser extent, we all owe intelligent, motivated, dedicated creators as
Harland Ross, Jack Laister, Stan Hall, Ernie, Paul and William Schweizer
(and - not intending to slight neighbors around the globe - Wolf Hirth,
Rudolph Kaiser, Rudiger Kunz, Edmund Schneider, ...) and others of those
generations whose only option to soar, was to design and build the
creations to make it possible - well, we all owe them debts of gratitude.

Our ability to purchase today's factory-built composite ships flows
directly from their efforts - and parallel/subsequent efforts of many
others who've focused part or all of their adult lives on pursuing the
business side of creating soaring ships.

Wow - come to think of it, all of the gliders I've owned outright over
the years, have largely been the creation of individuals (as distinct
from well-funded corporations): 1-26 (3 brothers), Concept 70 (Arthur
Zimmerman), HP-14 (Dick Schreder), Zuni (George Applebay). With the
exception of Art Zimmerman (who passed away too soon from cancer), each
of those men created multiple glider designs along their ways.

Gentlemen, I thank you all!

Back to your question, I hope to learn more of the history of the RS-1
from others' replies.

Regards,
Bob Whelan