PiK20b

two things, OK make it 3 (first, get with your local CFI if he knows PIK's
and get it straight from him!)
On Takeoff, make certain your tow pilot knows to get and keep his speed up,
ESPECIALLY if the PIK has only a CG hook!....Slow tows on a CG hook,
especially with gliders like the PIK with small elevator can be very
exciting, if not dangerous!....if you get the nose up (Always keep the nose
level on tow, or slightly down ((it'll be down if you're flying with some
degree of + Flaps))) and the tow is slow you may find yourself pitched up to
the sky and no way to get it back to level unless the tow can speed
up...dancing on the rudder with the nose to the moon is no fun!.....
On landing any flaps only glider you'll want full flaps........using 30-45
degree flaps will give you a very long ground effect float until the runway
and directional control are all completely gone!.... It may seem intense
standing on the pedals rushing towards the ground but you'll have to learn
this technique to successfully land the flaps only gliders.....
also....don't flare hard and don't flare until you're to just a very few
feet above the ground lest you balloon up and stall far too high to keep PIK
and Pilot in one piece....
tim
Wings & Wheels
www.wingsandwheels.com


"phil collin" wrote in message
...
I'm about to become the owner of a PiK20b.
I have never flown one before and wondered if there were any owners/pilots
of this particular model who could offer some words of wisdom on what to
expect. I've read with interest the "pat your head rub your tummy" stories
of flaring and winding the flaps up to negative to weight the tail at the
same time so you can use the nose wheel. I'm guessing 30 to 45 degrees of
flap on the approach is going to be like spoilers.
Looking forward to some responses. I take delivery this Saturday and the
met looks great at the moment.

Phil

My flapped experience is in a Laister Nugget. I loved the short and
steep approaches I could make in that ship.
The one thing that really helped me nail the flare and touchdown was to
take several pattern tows. I had been flying it for several months and
the landings were OK, but not as good as I wanted. My club required 3
"barrier landings" before going XC. This involves a couple folks
holding up a line with flags and a weak link on a couple long poles
stretched across the runway. One had to get stopped within 500' or so
three times in a row.
Anyway, I would suggest you take a few pattern tows and work on your
accuracy landing skills after you've had a few flights to familiarize
yourself in the ship. Making several landings in quick succession will
help you recognize and work on any problems you may have.

-Tom

Hi
Go to Jim Tsillas homepage http://www.appledor.net/tsillas/soaring/ .
Here you find good descriptions on take off and landing, and much
useful information on the Pik.
Matts


phil collin skrev:

I'm about to become the owner of a PiK20b.
I have never flown one before and wondered if there were any
owners/pilots of this particular model who could offer some words of
wisdom on what to expect. I've read with interest the "pat your head rub
your tummy" stories of flaring and winding the flaps up to negative to
weight the tail at the same time so you can use the nose wheel. I'm
guessing 30 to 45 degrees of flap on the approach is going to be like
spoilers.
Looking forward to some responses. I take delivery this Saturday and the
met looks great at the moment.

Phil

Phil,

One more thing that should be mentioned... I was given a blessing the
first time I assembled the PIK alone. One of the pip pins that connect
the flaps and ailerons was not through the ball, but looked OK from the
outside. Upon towing the glider to the flight line, one of my flaps
drooped a bit, showing me just how easily it is to make a mistake in
rigging the wing-flight controls. Please check and double check... and
enjoy your new ship.

Jack

Thank you for the link. Good information!

I have never flown a PIK-20B. My flap-only sailplane experience is in a
Schreder HP-16T and a HP-14.

A few years ago Bob Kuykendall wrote an article to assist new Schreder
pilots. Much of the information should also apply to the PIK-20B.
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder/St..._HP_flight.htm

Wayne
HP-14 N990 "6F"
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder

wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi
Go to Jim Tsillas homepage http://www.appledor.net/tsillas/soaring/ .
Here you find good descriptions on take off and landing, and much
useful information on the Pik.
Matts


phil collin skrev: