On Mar 9, 3:21*pm, Andy wrote:
On Mar 9, 12:42*pm, Limus wrote:

I found out today that Popular Science put all of their issues going
many years back into Google Books, available for free. I was just
browsing Jul 1948 issue when I found this article there that talks
about the soaring in 1948 and Robinson "Rate of climb" instrument. Man
we have it easy these days. Except of course fine sailplanes don't
retail for $3000 anymore.

Never mind the pellet vario, I'm fascinated by the paint mitten.
Perhaps this could be the revolution in glider refinishing we have
been missing for so long.

Andy

Also the caption to one of the photos describing the "Schweitzer 1-21
of unusually high performance." The sailplane directory lists the L/D
as 27:1, although apparently it also had ballast tanks.