Polyteknik booths ilmailukerho

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The abbreviation PIK , written out Polyteknikkojen ilmailukerho ry , became known worldwide as the type designation for Finnish gliders and powered aircraft. Translated into German it means Polytechnischer Flugverein. PIK is a student association at the Aalto University in Finland Espoo . He has been active in the field of aviation research since 1938 and is therefore comparable to the German Akafliegs or academic flying groups.

Their guiding principle of research - building - flying applies here as well. The designs carried out by the Finnish students have an excellent reputation worldwide and were often produced in large or small series. The PIK-3c , PIK-16 and PIK-20 gliders made a particular contribution to this . But motor gliders and powered aircraft also went into series production.

The association receives support from various chairs at the Technical University. The use of a wind tunnel is one of the very good research opportunities . In the first few years after it was founded on March 26, 1931, however, PIK was a pure aviation club at the university.

The association flies in Malmi and Räyskälä and trains glider and motorized pilots and flight instructors there. Spring camps on the frozen Torneträsk were also very popular. As the only in-house design, the PIK-23 OH-TOW is currently flown as a tow plane in the club.

The designs from PIK

Gliders

The first drafts PIK-1, PIK-2 and PIK-4 were not implemented due to the outbreak of the Second World War. The last two were based on the Polish wrona (crow).

  • PIK-5 The school machine flew for the first time in 1946. Of the very good construction, 27 copies were built in three versions.
  • PIK-6 The design could not be built due to lack of funds.
  • PIK-7 Also known as Harakka , first flight was in 1947. The school glider was built 57 times.
  • PIK-3 The first drafts began in 1942, but the PIK-3 did not fly until 1950 and the two versions 3a and 3b were built four times.
  • PIK-12 Two-seat trainer aircraft, first flight in 1956, built four times.
  • PIK-13 open-class design, first flight in 1954, attracted attention through successful flights at the world championship.
  • PIK-14 Work was stopped due to the development of the PIK-3c.
  • PIK-3c The kayava's maiden flight took place in 1957. The machine has proven itself excellently in international competitions. Forty copies were built and were used in many Finnish clubs.
  • PIK-16 Vasama (arrow) Design from 1959, first flight in 1961. A PIK-16c achieved third place in the standard class at the Gliding World Championship in 1963 and won the OSTIV prize . A total of 52 machines, built in series by Lehtovaara OY.
  • PIK-17 In wood and plastic construction, first flight in 1966, built in two versions.
  • PIK-20 The Tiu made its maiden flight in 1973. As the PIK-20B, it reached the first three places in the 1976 World Gliding Championship. 317 machines of the three glider versions were built in Finland. The manufacturers were Molino and, after its takeover, Eiri-Avion OY. 85% of the aircraft were exported. According to experts, no other Finnish aircraft will ever achieve this number.
  • PIK-22 two-seater design for Eiri Avion; the lack of funding prevented completion and series production of the project.

Motor sailer

Moottoribaby in the Finnish Aviation Museum
  • PIK-10 The Moottoribaby , a motorized version of the Grunau Baby , flew for the first time in 1949 and was in use with a more powerful motor from 1950 to 1969.
  • PIK-20E A motor glider version of the PIK-20 with a 43 HP Rotax engine was also internationally successful. Eiri built 103 machines in Finland and Siren or Issoire SA another 20 in France. A 17-meter version with clip-on wings was also referred to by Issoire as the PIK-30.
  • PIK-24 An RF-4D with the wings of the PIK-20. More of a private than a club project.
  • PIK-30 This number was not officially assigned by PIK; see above under PIK-20E.

Powered aircraft

  • PIK-8 two-seater in wood construction, the design was not carried out.
  • PIK-9 single-seat training aircraft in wooden construction, also failed to fly.
  • PIK-11 The single-seater flew for the first time in 1953, four were built.
  • PIK-15 two-seater tow and training machine, first flight was 1962, a total of seven machines. Series built at Valmet .
  • PIK-19 towing and training machine, first flight in 1972. It stayed with the prototype , as no manufacturer for series production was found.
  • PIK-23 Also called Valmet PIK-23 Towmaster , towing and training machine, in plastic construction. The first flight took place in 1982, only two prototypes were built.
  • PIK-27 The draft was designed as a single-seat and inexpensive towing machine. The first flight took place in 2006, and if there was enough demand, Windcraft Ltd. serial production of the machine in Lahti .

Light aircraft with VW engines

  • PIK-18 Designed as a budget aircraft; after a long construction period, the first flight did not take place until 1976.
  • PIK-21's first flight was in 1981, and three copies of the fast single-seater were built.
  • PIK-25 The anniversary number 25 was planned as a great success for series production, but developed into a project that failed due to the bureaucratic effort. The 1985 design was completed privately and so the two-seater did not make its maiden flight for 22 years.

Microlights

  • PIK-26 single-seater ultralight aircraft in the experimental category, the first flight took place in 1996, four machines were built.

Trivia

The statement that only aircraft with the designation PIK can be built and sold in Finland only applies to the civilian sector. In the military sector, Valmet is now successful as part of Patria .

literature

  • Rudolf H. Böttcher: PIK, an academic flying group in Finland . Unpublished Lecture manuscript. Akaflieg Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe 1980.
  • Vilho Harle: Vinka yes Haukka . Tampere, 1978.
  • Riihelä, Kaitera, Oikarainen, Patolinna, Pääsky ja Vallikari (toim.): Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho ry 50 from March 26, 1931 - March 26, 1981 . PIK, Espoo 1981.
  • Jukka Raunio: Lentäjän Näkökulma III, PIK-sarjan lentokoneet . J. Raunio, 1995. ISBN 951-96866-1-4 .

Remarks

  1. ↑ The further order depends on the chronology of the types. Unexecuted drafts and additional names are written in italics .

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