At 18:40 06 September 2016, wrote:
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-Te=
xas
weather) ...
This is what I have to say for my experience on it :
=20
The Pik is a very nice plane. It thermals beatifully with a little
flap
a=
nd
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.
=20
About the L/D The book says 38:1 but think 36 is more like it.. I
guess
t=
he
wings are not in optimum shape and I could do a better job
with the tape.
=20
About the landings.. if you have not flown a flapped glider (with
no
spoi=
lers)
the landing is quite a workout at least until you get used to
point the
n=
ose
directly down to the field.
=20
You can crank 5 turns on the flap lever, I use the first 3 as flaps
and
t=
he last
2 are pretty much a spoiler.
whith full flaps the plane is pretty much going straight down
(important:=
watch
your speed)
=20
I have landed it on pretty short fields, and I got to say the
wheel
brake=
s are
worthless.. (at least mine are) & I heard that most Pik's are like
that..
=20
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
th=
e tail
in the ground. it should stop in less than 200 ft
=20
Other negative point for the Pik, is that you need at least 2
people to
t=
ake it
apart and definetly 3 to put it back together!
=20
So far I love it.
alx.
=20
=20
Moto12345 wrote:
=20
Does anyone have experience with the PIK 20? How does it
thermal in
lig=
ht
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
lik=
e the
idea of no gel coat. I haven't flown a flapped glider yet but I
hear
it=
s 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
vin=
tage. Also, would love to assist in rigging / de-rigging one to get
a
fee=
l for what to expect. Would you be available for a call?

Yes to all the above, only one problem, if the wings get wet it has all
the qualities of a housebrick. If you fly somewhere where it never
rains that will not bother you at all.