Schweizer brothers
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Paul, William (Bill), and Ernest Schweizer were three brothers who started building gliders in 1930. In 1937, they formed the Schweizer Metal Aircraft Company, and sold the SGU 1-7 glider to Harvard University's Altosaurus Glider Club. A photo of Eliot Noyes and John Nichols sharing experiences in the SGU1-7 glider can be found on page 2 of the November 2005 issue of SKYLINES, a monthly newsletter published by the Skyline Soaring Club, LLC. That glider was later restored and currently resides at the National Soaring Museum in Elmira, New York.
In 1939 the Schweizer brothers relocated to Elmira, New York, and incorporated as Schweizer Aircraft. Best known internationally for their gliders, they also remembered the importance of the folks who worked with them and for them. Over their nearly 70 years, they enabled creation of various flying machines; from gliders to crop dusters to helicopters, while contributing to the aircraft industry as a whole, and the Southern Tier of New York in particular. A 1999 photo of these gentlemen, as well as a timeline of their company's accomplishments and significant historical events can be found at Schweizer's corporate history page.
According to a recent editorial in the Elmira Star-Gazette, when it came time to sell the company, the brothers wanted to find a buyer who respected their values and their folks, and chose the Sikorsky (a UTC subsidiary) in Connecticut. The sale was completed successfully, providing growth opportunities for Schweizer.[1]
All three brothers have been inducted to the U.S. Soaring Hall of Fame, Paul and Earnest in its second year, 1955 (along with the Wright Brothers), and later William in 1984. Paul and Earnest also won the 1953 Warren E. Eaton Memorial Trophy, considered Soaring Society of America's highest award.[2]
