AMAC's chief pilot, Peter Hesselbach made the first flight on 28 July 1928 in the Darmstadt I glider.
[2] The New York Times story greatly impressed the members of the Mercury Model Airplane Club including Atlee Hauck, Ernie Whidden, Robert Yellow and brothers Paul, Ernest and Bill Schweizer.
This rather substantial amount caused only those serious about glider flying to remain to build the aircraft, led by the Schweizer brothers.
The teenagers estimated that the glider would cost US$100 to complete and saved their busfare money by walking to and from school.
The aircraft was designed to be bungee launched with an elastic shock cord and had a single skid for landing gear.
[2] The Schweizer brothers were concerned that their father might not let them fly the glider when it was completed and so they built it in secret.
They enlisted the aid of local children to pull the shock cord, but after the novelty appeal wore off, they had difficulties finding sufficient people for bungee launching.
The aircraft was flown by each of the Schweizer brothers and was donated to the National Soaring Museum where it remains on display.