Eiri PIK-20D

DEVELOPMENT and DESCRIPTION

Finland has produced some notable glider designs, the best known of these being the PIK series of sailplanes which get their name from the Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho, which was founded at Helsinki University of Technology in 1931. Latest of these is the single-seat high performance Unrestricted Class PIK-20, design work on which, by a team headed by Pekka Tammi, started on 1 May 1971, the first of two prototypes making its first flight on 10 October 1973. Finnish certification of the PIK-20 was granted on 20 June 1974, followed by FAA certification exactly a year later.

The PIK-20 was soon followed by the PIK-20B, the main production version, which had an increased gross weight, greater water ballast capacity of 309lb, interconnected flaps and ailerons for improved performance, and a pneumatically sealed sideways opening cockpit canopy. From aircraft No 20100 carbon-fibre spars became available as an option, reducing the empty weight to 496lb.

Current production version is the PIK-20D, first flown on 19 April 1976 and which has now superseded the B; this has carbon-fibre spars as standard, a more pointed nose and the tailplane moved forward slightly to give greater rudder area and is fitted with Schempp-Hirth air brakes and improved flaps, or 'flaperons', which act as both flaps and ailerons for enhanced performance. The cockpit is enlarged and its layout improved, and carbon-fibre is also used to reinforce the fuselage. PIK-20 production is undertaken by Eiriavion O/Y, and by January 1979 a total of 149 PIK-20Bs and 150 PIK-20Ds had been delivered.

The type soon made its mark in competitions, winning the first three places in the Standard class at the 1976 World Gliding Championships in Finland, and also winning several national championships. The cantilever shoulder wings are of glassfibre/epoxy/PVC foam sandwich construction, with spars of carbon-fibre reinforced epoxy, and the flaps, which have different settings for speed flying or soaring, lowered to 90ø in the earlier PIK-20B to act as air brakes; the D has Schempp-Hirth air brakes. The fuselage is a glassfibre/epoxy monocoque reinforced with ribs and carbon-fibre; there is a retractable Tost monowheel with a drum brake as well as a tailwheel. The T-tail is of similar construction to the wings, and the fixed-incidence tailplane has a one-piece elevator.

PERFORMANCE DATA

 

Three Axis View Eiri PIK-20D

GGC's Syndicate – VH-WQF

While privately owned by Rolf and Joern Buelter WQF is regularly flown cross country from the airfield.

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