Valmet PIK-23 Towmaster

infobox Aircraft
name = PIK-23 Towmaster
type = Glider tower/primary trainer
manufacturer = Valmet

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caption =
designer =
first flight = March 22, 1982
introduced = 1982
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced = 1982-83
number built = 2
unit cost =
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.

pecifications (PIK-23)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref={}

crew=2
capacity=
length main=7.19 m
length alt=23 ft 7 in
span main=10 m
span alt=32 ft 10 in
height main=2.9 m
height alt=9 ft 6 in
area main= m²
area alt= ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= kg
empty weight alt= lb
loaded weight main= kg
loaded weight alt= lb
useful load main= kg
useful load alt= kg
max takeoff weight main=870 kg
max takeoff weight alt=1,914 lb
more general=

engine (prop)=
type of prop=
number of props=1
power main= kW
power alt= hp
power original=

max speed main=250 km/h
max speed alt=135 knots, 154 mph
cruise speed main= km/h
cruise speed alt= knots, mph
stall speed main= km/h
stall speed alt= knots, mph
never exceed speed main= km/h
never exceed speed alt= knots, mph
range main=1,250 km
range alt=675 nm, 771 mi
ceiling main=3,650 m
ceiling alt=11,972 ft
climb rate main= m/s
climb rate alt= ft/min
loading main= kg/m²
loading alt= lb/ft²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= W/kg
power/mass alt= hp/lb
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=

similar aircraft=

sequence=

lists=
* List of civil aircraft
see also=

References