1-26 for first glider, or not?

I know I will get replies on each end of the spectrum... but for a
first glider, low time pilot, it seems like a 1-26 would be a good
choice. Easy to fly, easy to land in tight spaces, cheap to maintain,
and very common and there are a few 1-26 groups, so help is
available. It's inexpensive (well under $10,000 USD, more like $6K).
I happen to like "old" stuff, like VW busses, etc, so the vintage
aspect of the 1-26 appeals to me. Also, I like the idea of starting
"at the beginning", maybe that's just me.

Of course, there is the option to buy an early fiberglass glider for
around 10K, but at that price it's likely a fairly uncommon glider,
hard to find parts for, and maybe not a good plane for a low time
pilot (flaps, etc). 20K would be better but right now that is outside
by budget.

I admit, reading the entire issue of the last soaring issue dedicated
to the 1-26 did lead me down this path. My wife read it also and
started asking me questions about the 1-26.

So, before I start looking for a 1-26 is there any reason I should
not? My plan would be to fly the 1-26 for about 5 years and then find
something more modern when funds allow and I've gained more
experience.

Opinions? If prefer to stay out of the debate you can always email me
privately.

Thanks
-tom

On Nov 12, 8:36*am, tstock wrote:
I know I will get replies on each end of the spectrum... but for a
first glider, low time pilot, it seems like a 1-26 would be a good
choice. *Easy to fly, easy to land in tight spaces, cheap to maintain,
and very common and there are a few 1-26 groups, so help is
available. *It's inexpensive (well under $10,000 USD, more like $6K).
I happen to like "old" stuff, like VW busses, etc, so the vintage
aspect of the 1-26 appeals to me. *Also, I like the idea of starting
"at the beginning", maybe that's just me.

Of course, there is the option to buy an early fiberglass glider for
around 10K, but at that price it's likely a fairly uncommon glider,
hard to find parts for, and maybe not a good plane for a low time
pilot (flaps, etc). *20K would be better but right now that is outside
by budget.

I admit, reading the entire issue of the last soaring issue dedicated
to the 1-26 did lead me down this path. *My wife read it also and
started asking me questions about the 1-26.

So, before I start looking for a 1-26 is there any reason I should
not? *My plan would be to fly the 1-26 for about 5 years and then find
something more modern when funds allow and I've gained more
experience.

Opinions? *If prefer to stay out of the debate you can always email me
privately.

Thanks
-tom

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.

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

On Nov 12, 8:36*am, tstock wrote:
I know I will get replies on each end of the spectrum... but for a
first glider, low time pilot, it seems like a 1-26 would be a good
choice. *Easy to fly, easy to land in tight spaces, cheap to maintain,
and very common and there are a few 1-26 groups, so help is
available. *It's inexpensive (well under $10,000 USD, more like $6K).
I happen to like "old" stuff, like VW busses, etc, so the vintage
aspect of the 1-26 appeals to me. *Also, I like the idea of starting
"at the beginning", maybe that's just me.

Of course, there is the option to buy an early fiberglass glider for
around 10K, but at that price it's likely a fairly uncommon glider,
hard to find parts for, and maybe not a good plane for a low time
pilot (flaps, etc). *20K would be better but right now that is outside
by budget.

I admit, reading the entire issue of the last soaring issue dedicated
to the 1-26 did lead me down this path. *My wife read it also and
started asking me questions about the 1-26.

So, before I start looking for a 1-26 is there any reason I should
not? *My plan would be to fly the 1-26 for about 5 years and then find
something more modern when funds allow and I've gained more
experience.

Opinions? *If prefer to stay out of the debate you can always email me
privately.

Thanks
-tom

If your budget is 6K, then you are limited to a 1-26 or old wood.
A 1-26 is easy to sell and get your money out of. Old wood isn't.
Go with the 1-26. Even if after a year you want something different,
it will be easy to sell.
Make sure you get one with a good trailer and good fabric. Pay more if
you have to. If you
have to do work to it, your ROI will go down rapidly when it's time to
sell.

Brian

On the other end of the scale.....if your plan is to eventually move
up the performance ladder....avoid the 1-26. The 1-26 is a specific
loved glider that borders on thumb screws and bamboo torture. If
you're the type of guy that has been driving the same VW since college
and loves how that old electric saw still works even though it sparks
enough to weld, then ya...the 1-26 is for you.
A tough find if you're patience would be the 1-34. It will cost you
double but give you more joy. You can park it outside like the 26 and
after you put a 1000 hours on it, get all your money back.
The 1-26 is a learning utility glider that comes with a group of
radicals that...and this is where they excel....are much friendlier
and easy going and like landings as much as the tows.
You will never see the boundaries of soaring from a 1-26. The key to
that will always be L/D.
I burned my Nov. edition. Had a Cuba Libre with it. Bacardi..Black
R

I think that anyone who has ever given a 1-26 a fair appraisal has
liked it. It's definitely a fun little ship to fly! It made this pilot
look good several times when he was staying up when glass couldn't.
And, as Ron Schwartz has shown, it has good XC potential in the right
hands.

Where I didn't like the 1-26 was (a) in the seating and (b) in the
cold. The one I flew (an E model) had a chair type plywood seat that
was really uncomfortable for me after 2-3 hours. The 1-26 Association
has articles showing how you can pad the seat; if you buy one I'd
highly recommend doing so.

The other issue I had was flying in the cold - this was because of the
breeze coming from the tow hook. Flying in 35 degree F weather, my
feet lost all feeling after half an hour. Again, if you buy one you
can use a simple flap of material to kill the breeze.

-John

On Nov 12, 10:49*am, jcarlyle wrote:
I think that anyone who has ever given a 1-26 a fair appraisal has
liked it. It's definitely a fun little ship to fly! It made this pilot
look good several times when he was staying up when glass couldn't.
And, as Ron Schwartz has shown, it has good XC potential in the right
hands.

Where I didn't like the 1-26 was (a) in the seating and (b) in the
cold. The one I flew (an E model) had a chair type plywood seat that
was really uncomfortable for me after 2-3 hours. The 1-26 Association
has articles showing how you can pad the seat; if you buy one I'd
highly recommend doing so.

The other issue I had was flying in the cold - this was because of the
breeze coming from the tow hook. Flying in 35 degree F weather, my
feet lost all feeling after half an hour. Again, if you buy one you
can use a simple flap of material to kill the breeze.

-John

Exactly. My 5 hour flight was in a 1-26 on the Harris Hill ridge in
the early spring. At around 2 hours I would hit a thermal and say
to myself, "Hey, I can stay up longer!". At around 4 hours I would
hit a thermal and say to myself, "Crap, I gotta stay up longer!"
It was great fun as my first single seater, but I've never seriously
considered owning one.

One other option is to look into the HP crowd. They're homebuilt,
which has its own set of problems, but the price range is similar,
they're made out of metal so you can tie them out, and (in theory)
they go a lot better than the 1-26. They are flap-only for landing,
which is not as scary as it sounds. At a price similar to the 1-34 is
the 1-35, which can be easier to find and goes better (and goes
together
better), although it is flap-only as well.

-- Matt

"mattm" wrote in message ...

.... Snip ....

One other option is to look into the HP crowd. They're homebuilt,
which has its own set of problems, but the price range is similar,
they're made out of metal so you can tie them out, and (in theory)
they go a lot better than the 1-26. They are flap-only for landing,
which is not as scary as it sounds. At a price similar to the 1-34 is
the 1-35, which can be easier to find and goes better (and goes
together better), although it is flap-only as well.

-- Matt

I guess you could classify me as part of the HP crowd. I have owned two and am currently flying a HP14. (http://tinyurl.com/N990-6F) There is a lot of information on Dick Schreder's designs on my website. (http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder)

While looking for more performance then a 1-26 don't over look the PIK-20B. They are in the same price range as the 1-35.

Wayne
http://www.soaridaho.com/

On Nov 12, 9:31*am, bdbng wrote:
On Nov 12, 8:36*am, tstock wrote:





I know I will get replies on each end of the spectrum... but for a
first glider, low time pilot, it seems like a 1-26 would be a good
choice. *Easy to fly, easy to land in tight spaces, cheap to maintain,
and very common and there are a few 1-26 groups, so help is
available. *It's inexpensive (well under $10,000 USD, more like $6K).
I happen to like "old" stuff, like VW busses, etc, so the vintage
aspect of the 1-26 appeals to me. *Also, I like the idea of starting
"at the beginning", maybe that's just me.

Of course, there is the option to buy an early fiberglass glider for
around 10K, but at that price it's likely a fairly uncommon glider,
hard to find parts for, and maybe not a good plane for a low time
pilot (flaps, etc). *20K would be better but right now that is outside
by budget.

I admit, reading the entire issue of the last soaring issue dedicated
to the 1-26 did lead me down this path. *My wife read it also and
started asking me questions about the 1-26.

So, before I start looking for a 1-26 is there any reason I should
not? *My plan would be to fly the 1-26 for about 5 years and then find
something more modern when funds allow and I've gained more
experience.

Opinions? *If prefer to stay out of the debate you can always email me
privately.

Thanks
-tom

If your budget is 6K, then you are limited to a 1-26 or old wood.
A 1-26 is easy to sell and get your money out of. Old wood isn't.
Go with the 1-26. Even if after a year you want something different,
it will be easy to sell.
Make sure you get one with a good trailer and good fabric. Pay more if
you have to. If you
have to do work to it, your ROI will go down rapidly when it's time to
sell.

Brian- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

What "old wood" gliders are you talking about? I agree that the last
two Cherokee II's to be advertised sat for a while until I bought
them. They also were both priced well below 6K. A good Ka6 can be
had in this price range, in fact one is advertised on the SSA's
classified site right now, and I think the Ka6 is just as sellable as
a 1-26.

Agree on the fabric and trailer.

tstock wrote:
I know I will get replies on each end of the spectrum... but for a
first glider, low time pilot, it seems like a 1-26 would be a good
choice. Easy to fly, easy to land in tight spaces, cheap to maintain,
and very common and there are a few 1-26 groups, so help is
available. It's inexpensive (well under $10,000 USD, more like $6K).
I happen to like "old" stuff, like VW busses, etc, so the vintage
aspect of the 1-26 appeals to me. Also, I like the idea of starting
"at the beginning", maybe that's just me.

Of course, there is the option to buy an early fiberglass glider for
around 10K, but at that price it's likely a fairly uncommon glider,
hard to find parts for, and maybe not a good plane for a low time
pilot (flaps, etc). 20K would be better but right now that is outside
by budget.


Get in a partnership in a decent glass ship.



I admit, reading the entire issue of the last soaring issue dedicated
to the 1-26 did lead me down this path. My wife read it also and
started asking me questions about the 1-26.

So, before I start looking for a 1-26 is there any reason I should
not? My plan would be to fly the 1-26 for about 5 years and then find
something more modern when funds allow and I've gained more
experience.

Opinions? If prefer to stay out of the debate you can always email me
privately.

Thanks
-tom