This 1-20 was originally produce by the factory as a 1-19 kit. It was built up as a 1-20 instead of a 1-19 by Art Heavener and Ben Hyson. It was later owned by Dave Wells and based at Harris Hill for a number of years. The nose was modified and lengthened to give the pilot more leg room.
It is now in the Iowa Aviation Preservation Center's Museum at the Greenfield Iowa Municipal Airport (515) 343-7184.
October 13, 1994
Guy Byars
1333 Cryer Ave.
Cincinnati OH 45208
Dear Guy,
I read your article concerning the restoration of the Schweizer Model 1-20, S/N 1. I can offer some information on the 1-20 story. Sometime in late 1953 or early 1954, I purchased the start of a 1-20 project from Don Ryon in Rochester, NY. The project consisted of a 1-19 fuselage, a set of poorly built ribs, and a set of 1-20 prints. I remember traveling to Rochester in the dead of winter, pulling our Pratt Read trailer to pick up the material. Making the trip were members of the South Jersey Soaring Society, Otto Zauner, Ben Hyson, Thurman Opperman and me. We encountered a snow storm on the return trip and we quickly learned that towing a long glider trailer on slippery roads was no fun. Ben Hyson and I were the actual owners of the 1-20 and I built it in my basement in. Vineland, NJ. It was quite interesting to see the reaction of visitors when as they looked around, they saw no way of getting the large chord wings out of the basement, especially when I acted surprised to learn that they couldn't be taken out. I had a small basement window which I planned on making six feet wide and I did so to remove the wings. I have pictures of it emerging from the basement.
It took me a few years to finish it and the first flight was made on July 25, 1956. I made one low-long auto tow down the 5200' runway and de-cided that all controls worked correctly and the cg appeared OK, then made two high auto. for further testing. No changes were required. I was quite proud of the building job when Lou Rehr took it to over 9000' in a cloud and demonstrated his confidence in my splicing of the spars since I couldn't get spar material long enough with out splicing.
After Otto Zauner built one of the first 1-26's, I spent my time flying the 1-26 and we eventually sold the 1-20, to whom, I don't remember.
Regarding your 1-20, N-91840, I purchased that ship in 1961 from the estate of Jack Devons who had a heart attack while air towing gliders in NJ. I first flew it on October 29, 1961 according to my log book, exhibit #2. I rebuilt the 1-20 shortly thereafter. During the rebuilding, Otto made a fiberglass nose, similar to the early 1-26's and that was in-stalled. The first flight after rebuilding occurred on May 23, 1964. That was eventually sold, again, I don't know to whom, and I started building a Cherokee II. The other 1-20 was built by a Priest sometime in the 50's or 60's up in Canada.
I hope this adds a little to the history of your ship. If you have any further questions that a 75 year old man might answer give me a call at I'll try to dust off my memory of the 1-20.
Art Heavener