Harakka
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Harakka ("European magpie") was a primary glider produced for pilot training in Finland in the 1940s.
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| Harakka | |
|---|---|
| Harakka II glider at Suomen Ilmailumuseo (Finnish Aviation Museum), 2001 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Primary glider |
| National origin | Finland |
| History | |
| First flight | February 1945 |
Development
Its design was typical of this class of aircraft, a "keel" with a pilot's seat suspended beneath a high, strut-braced monoplane wing, and carrying a conventional empennage at the end of an open framework.[1] First flown in February 1945, the type was built from plans by Finnish gliding clubs and soon replaced earlier primary gliders such as the Grunau 9,[2] becoming a standard piece of equipment in the clubs.[1][3]
In 1946, Raimo Häkkinen and Juhani Heinonen from Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho redesigned the Harakka to strengthen it.[4] This improved version became known as the Harakka II or PIK-7.[4][5][6] In 1948, a single example of a more radically redesigned version designated Harakka III flew.[7] This had the framework that supported the tail replaced by a single boom.[7]
Examples of the Harakka I and Harakka II are preserved at the Suomen ilmailumuseo[8] and the Karhulan ilmailukerho Aviation Museum,[1][6] with the sole Harakka III also preserved at the latter museum.[7]
Variants
- Harakka I - initial version (based on Oleg Antonov's Us-4 aka Antonov A-1)
- Harakka II - strengthened version (several dozen built)[4]
- Harakka III - version with redesigned tail (1 built)[7]
Specifications (Harakka II)
Data from "Harakka II (H-57)"
General characteristics
- Crew: One pilot
- Length: 5.72 m (18 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 10.60 m (34 ft 9 in)
- Height: 1.30 m (4 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 15 m2 (161 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 92 kg (200 lb)
- Gross weight: 200 kg (440 lb)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 117 km/h (73 mph, 63 kn)
- Maximum glide ratio: 10.5:1
- Rate of sink: 1.2 m/s (236 ft/min)
