- published: 10 May 2014
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The Schweizer SGU 1-19 and Schweizer SGU 1-20 are a family of United States single-seat, high-wing, strut-braced, utility gliders built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York.
The 1-19 was a 1944 development of the pre-war SGU 1-7 and bears a strong resemblance to the earlier craft. It was designed for single place training and soaring flights.
The 1-20 was an improved version of the 1-19 with a wingspan of 43 feet (13 m) replacing the 36-foot (11 m) wing on the 1-19.
Schweizer Aircraft had produced the SGS 2-8 and SGS 2-12 training gliders for the US military as well as producing many aircraft parts under subcontract for the war effort. As the Second World War was drawing to a close the company decided to continue to make gliding part of their business plan.
Many economic forecasts had predicted a post war aviation boom, with thousands of military trained airmen returning home to the USA to fly civil aircraft. Like many aircraft manufacturers Schweizer planned to produce new aircraft for the boom.