The Schweizer SGS 1-23 is a United States Open and Standard Class, single-seat, mid-wing glider built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York. The original "standard" 1-23 was introduced in 1948. The aircraft quickly became the most numerous competition and performance sailplane in the USA. A total of 93 of all sub-models were built by the time production was completed in 1967.
Design and development Schweizer Aircraft started construction of the 1-23 prototype in May 1948. The aircraft was completed and first flew on 5 July 1948, only nine weeks after construction had begun. The prototype had been ordered by Bill Frutchy of Elmira, New York and the aircraft was available for him to fly it in the second half of the US Nationals. The first production 1-23 was ordered by E.J Reeves. The success of this aircraft led to more orders and series production was commenced. The 1-23 was initially sold on a "factory direct" basis, which allowed them to be sold at a lower price than through the dealer network. The 1-23 received Civil Aeronautics Administration type certificate 1G1 on 22 November 1949. The type certificate is currently held by K & L Soaring of Cayuta, New York. K & L Soaring now provides all parts and support for the Schweizer line of sailplanes.
Operational history A 1-23, flown by William Ivans, set a world altitude record for gliders on 30 December 1950, reaching a height of 42,089 ft (12,840 m). 1-23Ds were flown by Paul McCready to win the 1953 US Nationals and to set a distance record of 455.5 miles (733 km) by Joe Lincoln. Lincoln was awarded the Barringer Trophy in 1960 for that distance flight. Paul Bikle flew the sole 1-23E to a world absolute altitude record of 46,267 feet for a record gain of 42,300 feet on 25 February 1961. The records were set in the Sierra Nevada lee wave between Mojave, California and Inyokern, California. Bikle flew the record flights without cabin pressurization or a pressure suit. His record stood for many years. In April 2008 there were still 49 1-23s registered in the USA and 5 in Canada.
Variants 1-23 The original 1-23 model is also referred to as a "standard". The aircraft had a 43.83 foot wingspan and a glide ratio of 27:1, with a minimum sink of 2.3 feet per second. Gross weight for serial numbers 1 to 11 was 600 lbs. Later 1-23 standards had a gross weight of 660 lbs. One "standard" was retrofitted at the factory with water ballast for Kim Scribner. There were 22 "standards" completed. Many pilots like the faster roll and better circling characteristics of the "standard" over the later longer-winged versions of the 1-23. 1-23A There were no 1-23As built. 1-23B The "B" model was introduced in 1952 and incorporated a longer wing of 50 feet in span. The spars were standard 1-23 spars with a spliced section added. There was only one "B" model built. It was a custom order for Paul MacCready specifically to fly in the 1952 World Gliding Championships held in Madrid, Spain. The production version of the "B" model was the "D" model. The 1-23B was not certified. 1-23C The "C" model was also built in 1952 and, like the "B", incorporated a longer wing with a 50 foot span. The "C" had heavier wing skins and a heavier spar and, as a result, weighed 90 lbs more than the "B". There was only one "C" model built for the designer Paul A Schweizer specifically to fly in the 1952 World Gliding Championships held in Madrid, Spain. The 1-23C was not certified. The "C" was subsequently sold to by Larry Gehrlein who modified it to a large degree. It was crashed and rebuilt with a set of 1-23D wings. It was later damaged again in an accident and rebuilt by the factory as a "D" model. In the mid-1980s it was owned by the Rochester Soaring Club. The "C" wings were also later rebuilt and used in the homebuilt Gehrlein Precursor. The Precursor mounts the 1-23C wings high on a Schweizer 1-26A fuselage to produce an aircraft with a 53.5 foot wing span and a glide ratio of 32:1. 1-23D
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