Schweizer SGS 1-21 - Operational History

Operational History

The first 1-21 flew in early 1947 and was delivered to Dick Comey who flew it in the US Nationals that year, winning the competition.

The second 1-21 was donated to the Soaring Society of America by David Stacy in the summer of 1957. Stacy's request was that the 1-21 be auctioned off to raise funds to hire a new executive secretary for the association. The aircraft went to the highest bidder, Robert Lee Moore of Richland, Washington.

Dick Comey used the first 1-21 to enter the 1947 US Nationals. The event was a gruelling 17 day competition, with 14 contest days declared. All tasks were "open" with most pilots choosing "free distance" flights to gain the most points. These resulted in long end-of-day retrieve drives to get the sailplanes, resulting in late-night returns to base and early departures the next day again. Comey used the performance advantage of the 1-21, his own persistence, plus his dedicated crew of Bill Frutchy and Schweizer Aircraft employee Don Quigley, who was crewing on his vacation time, to win the lengthy contest.

Comey was subsequently hired by the SSA as their new general manager and did not compete in the 1948 Nationals. The aircraft was flown in the 1957 Nationals by Stan Smith, who won the competition.

Smith also used the aircraft to compete in the World Gliding Championships in Madrid, Spain in 1952.

The first 1-21 was also used by Comey in 1947 to set the US national distance record of 300 miles (486 km).

The second 1-21 was flown by Robert Lee Moore in the US Nationals on several occasions, as well as completing his Diamond badge in the aircraft.

In May 2008 both 1-21s were privately owned and still being flown:

• Serial number 1 - N91856
• Serial number 2 - N91861