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The Harakka ("European magpie") was a primary glider produced for pilot training in Finland in the 1940s.
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."Harakka I (H-12)" 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,"Grunau 9 ja PIK-7 Harakka, kerhon 1940-50-lukujen alkeiskoulukoneet" becoming a standard piece of equipment in the clubs.Hardy 1982, p.74
In 1946, Raimo Häkkinen and Juhani Heinonen from Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho redesigned the Harakka to strengthen it."PIK-sarjan lentokoneet" This improved version became known as the Harakka II or PIK-7."PIK-sarjan lentokoneet"Taylor 1989, p.726"Harakka II (H-57)" In 1948, a single example of a more radically redesigned version designated Harakka III flew."Harakka III/PIK-7 (H-34)" This had the framework that supported the tail replaced by a single boom.
Examples of the Harakka I and Harakka II are preserved at the Suomen ilmailumuseo"Aircraft on display" [sic] and the Karhulan ilmailukerho Aviation Museum, with the sole Harakka III also preserved at the latter museum.
Variants Harakka I - initial version (based on Oleg Antonov's Us-4 Antonov A-1) Harakka II - strengthened version (several dozen built) Harakka III - version with redesigned tail (1 built)
Specifications (Harakka II)
See also
Antonov A-1
Notes
References