by Schweizer Aircraft. The seven-month contest held across the US and Canada encouraged pilots to earn badges in the 1-26 to be eligible for prizes. These included 28 barographs as well as trophies. The contest resulted in many badges earned as well as three flights over 300 miles (486 km). Canadian Harold Eley earned all three Diamonds in a 1-26. Variants 1-26 The original 1-26 model is also referred to as a "standard". It features a welded steel tube fuselage and aluminum framed wings, all covered in aircraft fabric. Gross weight is 575 lbs. There were 22 "standards" completed. 1-26A The 1-26A is a "standard" that was completed by the builder from a kit and licensed as a certified aircraft, instead of an amateur-built. There were 114 completed. Like the "standard", the "A" also has a gross weight of 575 lbs. 1-26B The "B" model was introduced in 1956 as a factory built aircraft. It improved on the "standard" by introducing metal-covered wings. This resulted in the empty weight increasing by 25 lbs. The gross weight was increased to 600 lbs to account for the loss of useful load. Starting in 1965 the "B" was available with a swept tail to replace the rounded tail. 1-26C The "C" is a kit-built "B" model. Like its factory built counterpart it also had a gross weight of 600lbs. 1-26D The 1-26D was introduced in 1968 and incorporated some evolutionary improvements to make the aircraft simpler and easier to construct. These include a new monocoque nose forward of the main spar, top and bottom dive brakes to replace the top surface only spoilers of earlier models, new ailerons and a gross weight increased to 700 lbs. The "D" model also introduced a one-piece canopy and a lower profile fuselage. The swept tail was standard on the "D" model. A total of 77 "D" models were produced. 1-26E The "E" model was introduced in 1971. The 1-26E incorporates a complete monocoque metal fuselage, entirely replacing the welded tube construction of the earlier models. It also has a revised fin assembly with new style attachments. The "E" has a gross weight of 700 lbs. 213 were built. 1-30 The Schweizer SA 1-30 used the wings and tail surfaces from the 1-26 to produce a powered aircraft. Aircraft on display National Soaring Museum – 1-26 serial number 001 The NSM also has SGS 1-26E serial number