Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho

Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho (PIK) is the student flying club of the Aalto University. It is similar to the Akafliegs of German Universities. Students make designs with advice from staff to give practical experience before seeking employment. It was formed in 1931 and has since developed light aircraft and gliders, often on a small scale but sometimes its designs have been produced in quantity. The club also owns aircraft that members can rent.

Gliders

Club members designed a series of gliders starting in 1945 including:

• PIK-1 Designed in 1938, not built due to WW2
• PIK-2 primary glider Designed in 1938, never built
• PIK-3a Kanttikolmonen Design started in 1942, first prototype ready in 1950 (The first PIK to go into series production)
• PIK-3c Kajava Designed in 1957
• PIK-4 primary glider Designed in 1944, never built
• PIK-5 Cumulus variants b, c Designed in 1945, first prototype flew in 1946
• PIK-6 Designed in 1946, never built due to lack of money
• PIK-7 Harakka primary glider
• PIK-12 (two seater designed by Ilkka Lounamaa, first prototype flew in 1956)
• PIK-13 Designed in 1953-1954
• PIK-14 Designed in 1956 but never built as resources were spent on PIK-3c instead
• PIK-16 Vasama Designed in 1959, first prototype flew in 1961
• PIK-17a Tumppi, PIK-17b Tintti
• PIK-20 Tiu variants A, B, D, E
• PIK-22
• PIK-24 Pileus motorglider
• PIK-30 motorglider

The PIK-3 was designed by Lars Norrmen and Ilkka Lounama and first flew in 1950. It became widely used in Finnish gliding clubs. 40 were built.

The PIK-16 Vasama (or Arrow) was designed by Tuomo Tervo, Jorma Jalkenen and Kurt Hedström. A PIK-16C took third place in the Standard Class in the World Gliding Championships in 1963. It was put into series production by KK Lehtovaara O/Y which built 56.

The PIK-20 was designed by a team led by a student, Pekka Tammi, from 1971-1973 and guided by Ilkka Rantasalo and Raimo Nurminen. The first flight was in 1973. It was produced by initially by Molino O/Y which was taken over by Eiri-Avion O/Y in 1974 but continued production. PIK-20 gliders won the first three places at the Standard Class at the World Gliding Championships in 1976. 409 PIK-20 gliders of all types were built by 1981, of which 85% were exported.

Powered aircraft

• PIK-11 Tumppu
• PIK-15 Hinu
• PIK-18 Sytky First flight on 9/7/1976
• PIK-19 Muhinu
• PIK-21 Super-Sytky First flight on 16/5/1981
• Valmet PIK-23 Towmaster
• PIK-25 Varttimarkka First flight on 21/6/2007
• PIK-26 Mini-Sytky First flight on 10/8/1996
• PIK-27 Sehinu glider tug First flight on 21/12/2006