On Saturday, August 4, 2012 8:09:30 PM UTC-6, Tony wrote:
On Saturday, August 4, 2012 9:06:51 PM UTC-5, son_of_flubber wrote:

I've had great fun flying an SGS 1-26 in New England. What's a 1-26 like in the stronger conditions that are more typical 'out west' (say Moriarty New Mexico). I'd especially like to hear from anyone who has flown the 1-26 both east and west USA.







I've kept the 1-26 up for nice long flights close to the airport in very light lift on days when the "high performance guys" don't even bother to assemble. On a decent day, it goes right up to cloud base and stays there for mild cross-country. If you have to land out, you can do it in the available postage-stamp-sized sloping fields.







The weak point is of course 'penetration' as the sink increases rapidly with airspeed. All and all it's a great fun ship (for what it is).







How does a SGS 1-26 do in stronger conditions with higher cloud bases that I would expect to find in 'Soaring Nirvana' 'out west'?



There is at least one 1-26 (Pete Vredenburg, "Bulldog") flying XC in Moriarty, and others in Arizona. This years 1-26 Champion Bob Hurni is based in the Phoenix area. Next years 1-26 Championships will be in Moriarty. I believe that Mark Keene did 60 mph on an assigned task back in the day at a 1-26 championships in Moriarty.



There are a few guys (Doug Levy in particular) who do long flights in their 1-26's in the Sierras.



I will get you Pete's contact info off group.

In 1970 the Albuquerque Soaring Club moved its operations to Moriarty. Since that time there have been many excellent flights in 1-26s flying out of Moriarty. Three pilots completed all of three of diamonds from Moriarty and there have been numerous Diamond and Gold Badge legs completed in 1-26s over the years.

Pete (Bulldog) Vredenburg flies his 1-26 regularly out of Moriarty and the 1-26 Nationals have been held here several times. I owned a 1-26 for seven years and flew at Moriarty and I can attest to the outstanding conditions found here. In addition, we also often have visitors with 1-26s that trailer their ships out here to fly. If you take a look at the OLC, you will see the kind of soaring conditions we have out here...

Now, I know it is a long way from New England, but if you can make the trip, you will not regret it!
Thanks - Renny