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PIK-3C Kajava

  The PIK series of sailplanes designed and produced in Finland gets its name from the Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho, the flying club of the Student Union formed at Helsinki University of Technology in 1931; this series started ДальшеMore>>> in 1945 and the PIK-3 single-seater, intended for use by and for construction by gliding clubs, was the first to go into series production. It was followed by the PIK-5A, B and C intermediate training sailplanes and the PIK-7 primary glider which, together with the PIK-3, became standard types in the Finnish clubs, and the first two-seater in the series, the PIK-12 trainer. The PIK-3 was designed by Lars Norrmen and Ilkka Lounama, the first prototype making its maiden flight in the summer of 1950, and was of conventional wooden construction. It was followed by 20 PIK-3A and PIK-3B variants, the 3B, developed by Aush Koskinen, featuring air brakes instead of the 3A's wing flaps, and both these versions had a 13m (42ft 7 3/4 in) span wing. The PIK-3C Kajava is a high performance version of the 3B incorporating modifications, in particular a wing span increased to 15m (49ft 2 1/2in), to comply with Standard Class rules. The wing structure was completely redesigned and a new cockpit canopy fitted, the fuselage remaining otherwise unchanged from the SB's. The prototype PIK-3C first flew on 20 May 1958 and the 3C was modified for series production by Tuomo Tervo at the Suomen Ilmailuliito (the Finnish Aeronautical Association); 20 had been built by the beginning of 1970. Resembling the EoN Olympia, but with a more angular fin and rudder, the PIK-3C has high-set single-spar wooden wings and an oval-section wooden fuselage with diagonal ply covering, the fin and tailplane also being ply covered.


Data: PIK-3C
Span: 49 ft 2 1/2 in
Length: 21 ft 7 3/4 in
Height: 3 ft 3 in
Wing area: 141 sq ft
Aspect ratio: 17.1
Empty weight: 364 lb
Max weight: 617 lb
Max speed: 155 mph
Min sinking speed: 2 ft/sec at 40.5 mph
Best glide ratio: 30:1 at 46.5 mph