pik 20b

On Saturday, January 3, 1998 at 2:00:00 AM UTC-6, Alex Ferrer wrote:
I've owned a Pik20B (20PE) for the last 3 years (about 200 hours in N-Texas
weather) ...
This is what I have to say for my experience on it :

The Pik is a very nice plane. It thermals beatifully with a little flap and
about 50mph, I have climbed at the same rate with glass & canvas planes. I have
thermaled in as little as 260 fpm (min sink is about 220) and on 1000+fpm during
the summer seasons. It flies great and is very well manered, stalls are mild
and with plenty of warning, the cockpit is quiet and very roomy.

About the L/D The book says 38:1 but think 36 is more like it.. I guess the
wings are not in optimum shape and I could do a better job with the tape.

About the landings.. if you have not flown a flapped glider (with no spoilers)
the landing is quite a workout at least until you get used to point the nose
directly down to the field.

You can crank 5 turns on the flap lever, I use the first 3 as flaps and the last
2 are pretty much a spoiler.
whith full flaps the plane is pretty much going straight down (important: watch
your speed)

I have landed it on pretty short fields, and I got to say the wheel brakes are
worthless.. (at least mine are) & I heard that most Pik's are like that..

My Pik has no tail wheel, so I if I got to stop in a hurry I usually put
positive flaps as soon as the wheel touches the ground and quickly dig the tail
in the ground. it should stop in less than 200 ft

Other negative point for the Pik, is that you need at least 2 people to take it
apart and definetly 3 to put it back together!

So far I love it.
alx.


Moto12345 wrote:

Does anyone have experience with the PIK 20? How does it thermal in light
conditions. does it climb well. I like the l/d but I don't know what it's
airfoil does for climbing. Does the aircraft have any bad habits? I like the
idea of no gel coat. I haven't flown a flapped glider yet but I hear its a
slower approach and steeper. I would appreciate any comments.

I am wanting to buy my first glider and considering a pik 20-B. I live in the dfw area and would like to talk with a local pik owner regarding what to look out for when purchasing a pik, or really any glider of the same vintage. Also, would love to assist in rigging / de-rigging one to get a feel for what to expect. Would you be available for a call?