PIK-20
Eiri-Avion · Finland · first flew 1973 · glider
Finland’s world-beating glass-fibre sailplane of the 1970s — a world championship winner that put Finnish glider-making on the map.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.45 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Finnish Standard/15m-class competition sailplane
- Long slender wings, T-tail, retracting monowheel
- Winner of the 1976 world championships in its class
A classic glass sailplane silhouette: 15-metre slender wings, T-tail, single retracting wheel. Telling it from a Discus takes a look at the shorter, rounder nose and forward-hinging canopy.
Specifications
- The PIK-20 has a length of 6.45 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15 m (49 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 250 km/h (155 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed within the Helsinki University of Technology flying club (PIK) and produced by Eiri-Avion, the PIK-20 flew in 1973 and took the 1976 Standard Class world title in PIK-20B form. Successive D and E versions kept it competitive into the 1980s; the 20E added a retractable sustainer engine.
Variants
PIK-20, 20B and 20D pure sailplanes; PIK-20E self-launcher with a pop-up engine.
Where you'll see it
Hundreds still race and soar with clubs across Scandinavia, Europe and North America — a respected classic on any competition grid.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.