Sisu 1A
Arlington Aircraft Company · United States · first flew 1958 · glider
The Sisu 1A is a competition sailplane built in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was designed by Leonard Niemi as a homebuilt sailplane.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | V-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Long high-aspect-ratio high wing, about 15 m across
- V-tail
- Single-seat competition sailplane with a glide ratio of about 41:1
The Sisu 1A that broke the 1,000 km distance record was donated to the Smithsonian Institution and is displayed at the Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles airport.
Specifications
- The Sisu 1A has a length of 6.35 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.25 m (50 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 260 km/h (162 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Its first flight in 1958 showed such promise that Niemi decided to manufacture it in series, forming the Arlington Aircraft Company for the purpose. It first flew on 20 December 1958.
Variants
Eleven were built, by Astro Corporation and the Arlington Aircraft Company.
Where you'll see it
It won the 1962, 1965 and 1967 U.S. National Soaring Championships. On 31 July 1964 a Sisu 1A flown by Alvin H. Parker became the first sailplane to fly farther than 1,000 km.
Related aircraft
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