Valmet PIK-23 Towmaster

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PIK-23 Towmaster
Type Glider tower/primary trainer
Manufacturer Valmet
Maiden flight March 22, 1982
Introduced 1982
Produced 1982-83
Number built 2
Developed from PIK-19 Muhinu

Valmet PIK-23 Towmaster or Suhinu is a Finnish twin-seated glider towing/primary trainer aircraft built entirely out of composite materials in the early 1980s.

The Finnish technology students aviation club suggested in the 1970s, that a new aircraft should be developed for glider towing. The work focused on the improvement of a previous design, the PIK-19 Muhinu. Later on, the Helsinki University of Technology and Valmet Oy joined the project and the design process started from scratch. The goal was to develop a target/glider tower, which also could be used for basic training. It was given the name "PIK-23 Towmaster".

Only two aircraft were manufactured, one at Valmet and one at the Helsinki University of Technology. The first aircraft, OH-TOW, made its maiden flight on March 22, 1982, flown by Mikko Järvi. The second aircraft, OH-TUG, flew the following year.

Valmet marketed the aircraft intensively, but no orders followed. It was also investigated if the aircraft could be sold in parts, for self-assembly, in order to lower the price. In its intended role as a glider tower, the PIK-23 has been quite successful.

[edit] Specifications (PIK-23)

Data from {}

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 7.19 m (23 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: m² (ft²)
  • Empty weight: kg (lb)
  • Loaded weight: kg (lb)
  • Useful load: kg (kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 870 kg (1,914 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1× , kW (hp)

Performance


[edit] See also

Related lists

[edit] References