The PIK-20 sailplane was designed at the Helsinki University of Technology by Pekka Tammi, with advice from Ilkka Rantasalo and Raimo Nurminen.

At first the PIK-20 was classified as a Standard Class glider, which at the time allowed either flaps or air-brakes for landing approach control.

However at high speed great force was needed to fully lower the flaps and so the PIK-20 was equipped with a geared crank handle.

The first prototype finished 13th in the World Gliding Championships in Waikerie in January 1974 but it performed impressively.

This yellow prototype glider (OH-425) can be seen in movie named "Zulu Romeo - Good start" about this 1974 World Gliding Championship.

The name PIK is an acronym for Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho, the flying club of the Student Union of Helsinki University of Technology.

Retrofit of PIK-20B enlarged water ballast bags and corresponding 450 kg gross weight permitted under a service bulletin.

PIK 20D added conventional Schempp-Hirth airbrakes, carbon reinforcement strips at critical locations in the fuselage, the nose profile was sharpened, the tail-plane was moved forward and fuselage fairings recontoured to reduce drag.