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PIK-3

PIK-3 is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand PIK-3 rather than just read about it. In short: The PIK-3 (Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho – Finnish institute of technology students flying club) was a sailplane produced in Finland in the 1950s and 60s. It was designed to be a cheap and easy-to-build aircraft to equip the country's gliding clubs as their standard single-seat machine.

PIK-3 — main illustration
PIK-3 — illustration

Key takeaways

  • PIK-3 belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect PIK-3 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of PIK-3 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The PIK-3 (Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho – Finnish institute of technology students flying club) was a sailplane produced in Finland in the 1950s and 60s. It was designed to be a cheap and easy-to-build aircraft to equip the country's gliding clubs as their standard single-seat machine. It was a conventional design for its day, with a high wing and conventional empennage. Construction was of wood throughout, skinned in plywood. Design work commenced in 1942, but the prototype did not fly until 1950. Antti Koskinen refined the design for production as the PIK-3A and then further modified the design by replacing the flaps with air brakes, which was designated the PIK-3B. By the end of the 1950s, a third modification of the original design was carried out by Olavi Roininen as the PIK-3C. This had completely new wings of 15 m (49 ft 3 in) to allow it to compete in the Standard Class. The prototype flew on 20 May 1958, and the design was then modified for production by Suomen Ilmailuliitto.

Variants PIK-3 – first prototype with wingspan of 13 m (47 ft 8 in) PIK-3A Kanttikolmonen – initial production version of PIK-3 PIK-3B – PIK-3A with air brakes in place of flaps PIK-3C Kajava – PIK-3B with new wings of 15 m (49 ft 3 in) span

Specifications (PIK-3c) Data from Jane's World Sailplanes and Motor Gliders, The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du MondeGeneral characteristics Crew: 1 Length: 6.6 m (21 ft 8 in) (PIK-3 – 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)) Wingspan: 15 m (49 ft 3 in) (PIK-3 – 13 m (42 ft 8 in)) Mid wingspan: 1 m (3 ft 3 in) Height: 1 m (3 ft 3 in) Wing area: 13.1 m2 (141 sq ft) (PIK-3 – 13 m2 (140 sq ft)) Aspect ratio: 17.1 (PIK-3 – 13) Airfoil: Göttingen 549 (PIK-3 – Göttingen 693) Empty weight: 165 kg (364 lb) (PIK-3 – 135 kg (298 lb)) Max takeoff weight: 280 kg (617 lb) (PIK-3 – 240 kg (530 lb)) Performance

Stall speed: 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn) Never exceed speed: 235 km/h (146 mph, 127 kn) (PIK-3 – 200 km/h (124.3 mph; 108.0 kn)) Rough air speed max: 145 km/h (90.1 mph; 78.3 kn) (PIK-3 – 130 km/h (80.8 mph; 70.2 kn)) Aerotow speed: 140 km/h (87.0 mph; 75.6 kn) (PIK-3 – 130 km/h (80.8 mph; 70.2 kn)) Winch launch speed: 110 km/h (68.4 mph; 59.4 kn) (PIK-3 – 100 km/h (62.1 mph; 54.0 kn)) Terminal velocity: with full air-brakes at max all-up weight 200 km/h (124 mph; 108 kn) (PIK-3 – 180 km/h (111.8 mph; 97.2 kn)) g limits: +5 -2.5 (PIK-3 – +4 -2) Rate of sink: 0.61 m/s (120 ft/min) at 65 km/h (40.4 mph; 35.1 kn)) (PIK-3 – 0.76 m/s (149.6 ft/min) at 61 km/h (37.9 mph; 32.9 kn)) Lift-to-drag: 30:1 at 75 km/h (46.6 mph; 40.5 kn)) (PIK-3 – 25:1 at 72 km/h (44.7 mph; 38.9 kn)) Wing loading: 21.4 kg/m2 (4.4 lb/sq ft) PIK-3 – 18.5 kg/m2 (3.79 lb/sqft)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Schleicher Ka-6

Slingsby Skylark 2

Notes

References

Shenstone, B.S.; K.G. Wilkinson; Peter Brooks (1958). The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs dans Le Monde (in English, French, and German) (1st ed.). Zurich: Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue. pp. 9–13. Hardy, Michael (1982). Gliders and Sailplanes of the World. Shepperton: Ian Allan. Coates, Andrew (1978). Jane's World Sailplanes and Motor Gliders. London: MacDonald and Jane's. "PIK-sarjan lentokoneet". Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho website. Retrieved 2009-01-08. Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with PIK-3

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what PIK-3 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to PIK-3 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about PIK-3 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of PIK-3

In research
PIK-3 appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses PIK-3 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
PIK-3 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1950s Finnish sailplanes, Aircraft first flown in 1950, Glider aircraft, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for PIK-3 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study PIK-3 in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what PIK-3 means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain PIK-3 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is PIK-3 in simple terms?

The PIK-3 (Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho – Finnish institute of technology students flying club) was a sailplane produced in Finland in the 1950s and 60s. It was designed to be a cheap and easy-to-build aircraft to equip the country's gliding clubs as their standard single-seat machine.

Why does PIK-3 matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study PIK-3?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on PIK-3.

Tags

  • 1950s Finnish sailplanes
  • Aircraft first flown in 1950
  • Glider aircraft
  • High-wing aircraft
  • PIK aircraft

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