PIK-3
Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho · Finland · first flew 1950 · glider
The PIK-3 is a Finnish single-seat sailplane of the 1950s and 1960s, designed to be cheap and easy to build as a standard type for gliding clubs.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High wing on a single-seat sailplane
- Conventional tail unit
- All-wood construction skinned in plywood
A conventional wooden glider of its day, with a high wing, conventional tail and plywood skin. The prototype spanned 13 m, against 15 m for the PIK-3C.
Specifications
- The PIK-3 has a length of 6.5 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Design work began in 1942 but the prototype did not fly until 1950. The design was then refined into the PIK-3A and PIK-3B, and Olavi Roininen later produced the PIK-3C with new 15 m wings.
Variants
The PIK-3A Kanttikolmonen was the first production version, the PIK-3B replaced flaps with air brakes, and the PIK-3C Kajava had a 15 m span for the Standard Class.
Where you'll see it
About 40 were built. It was intended as the standard single-seat machine of the Finnish gliding clubs.
Related aircraft
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