The 1-26 was designed for people like you. *They are a little
expensive for the performance but come with a great support network
and a great community. *Don't worry, after reading the last issue of
Soaring I wanted to buy a 1-26 too. *My ever practical wife starts
asking me if that would be a step up from the Cherokee II (same
performance) and why I would spend a bunch of money to have a glider
that is no better than the one I already have. *Only answer I could
muster was so that I could fly the 1-26 contest! *I still don't think
she is convinced...

Summary: A great choice in my opinion for a first glider.

Your wife sounds a lot like mine. My wife actually emailed me at work
asking "Hey, what was that glider that was in your magazine? A
Schwhaaat? A one something? How much do they cost?"

Apparently she had read the part in the magazine about it having a
good safety record and that it's very easy to land in small spaces and
that had made an impression on her enough that she had been thinking
about it and our budget. She does not fly, and is not interested, so
it was interesting that she asked me about it...

-tom