[9] The first customer delivery was made on 16 October 1980 to Al Freedy of Hinckley Soaring, Schweizer's dealer in Chicago, where it was employed as a rental aircraft.

The Sprite's wing has balanced top and bottom divebrakes set well aft near the trailing edge.

[10] The pitot tube is installed in the nose air intake, which gives it good protection during ground handling.

Flight testing did note that the 1-36 has a tendency to oscillate in pitch while on aero-tow, but this was easily controlled by the pilot with practice.

Its robust and durable aluminum construction should make it an attractive sailplane for clubs, sport fliers, and one-design-class advocates.

[10]As a result of the low numbers produced, the 1-36 did not find a following as a one-design competition class, but it remains popular as a club, rental and personal glider.

[2][6][14] Schweizer Aircraft modified the Sprite's horizontal stabilizer to allow it to produce an elevator angle of up to 70 degrees.

[14] During September and October 1983 NASA flew the test program with the SGS 1-36, to demonstrate whether a piloted aircraft could be controlled in flight at very high angles of attack.

[14] The program results showed that the Sprite could be safely controlled at angles of attack of 30 to 72 degrees and at high rates of descent.