Schweizer developed a line of gliders starting in
World War II. The 1-30 was not intended to be a
motor glider, but rather a
light aircraft utilizing some glider and sailplane technologies, common parts with other Schweizer designs and an affordable price as a result of using smaller powerplants. Removable wings, and the ability to be transported by trailer were also criteria for keeping airport-based hangar costs down. The 1-30 shares the same wings and tail surfaces as the
1-26 glider. The
fuselage is of aluminum construction with a welded steel tube tail structure. The wings are removable using the same design as the 1-26. The engine uses a cowling with exposed cylinders like a
J-3 Cub for simplicity and cooling efficiency. Wing mounted
spoilers were retained from the 1-26, allowing steep low-speed descents at about a 5:1
glide ratio. Three sets of wings were tested including a set from the
model 2-31. ==Operational history==