Print Arlington Sisu 1A

HISTORY

The Sisu was the most successful American competition sailplane ever produced. It won the U.S. National Soaring Championships for John Ryan, 1962; Dean Svec, 1965; and A.J. Smith 1967). It also set three world records for Alvin H.Parker out of Odessa, Texas: 784 km/ 487 miles, 1963; free distance 1,041.5 km. /647.17 miles, 1964; and goal, 930.6 km. / 578.27 miles, 1969.

The prototype Sisu 1 first flew in 1958 and featured a full monocoque laminar flow wing structure and camber-changing flaps. Production models designated 1A had a lighter wing structure, vented airbrakes and slotted flaps. A.J. Smith further lightened his ship, and at one time used wingtip extensions to increase the span.

In its heyday, the Sisu may have been the world’s finest performance sailplane. The Sisu that set the world distance record was donated to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum and another was donated to the National Soaring Museum.

Special thanks to the Soaring Society of America, the Vintage Sailplane Association, and the National Air & Space Museum.