[3] The 1-29 is a development of the Schweizer SGS 1-23 that utilizes a 1-23 fuselage and a newly constructed set of 49.2 foot (15.0 m) span wings.

[1][3] The aircraft was constructed to study the feasibility of producing improved boundary layer laminar flow on a metal-winged sailplane.

By 1957 the development of fiberglass-reinforced plastic affected the production of many sporting goods, such as boats and fishing rods.

[2] Schweizer Aircraft evaluated the use of fiberglass for sailplane construction and rejected it for several reasons:[2] The company decided to concentrate on getting the best performance from the material that it knew best, aluminum.

The standard production model SGS 1-23H-15 with the same fuselage and wingspan as the 1-29 and a NACA 43012A airfoil, produced a best glide ratio of 29:1.