Zlín Z-26

The Zlin Z-26 Trener was a tandem-seat basic training aircraft built by the Czechoslovakian company Moravan. A low-wing monoplane of largely wooden construction, it was developed into a series of all-metal trainers. Several were also produced in aerobatic variants, known as the Akrobat.

The original Z-26 was designed in the 1940s and produced in 1946 to meet a requirement for a basic trainer to replace the Bücker Jungmann and Bestmann. It was a low-wing monoplane of mixed construction, with wooden wings and a welded metal tube fuselage, powered by a single four-cylinder piston engine, the Walter Minor 4-III. It first flew in early 1947, proving superior to the competing Praga 112, and was declared the winner, entering production in 1948.^[1]

Later derivatives were also optimised to participate in aerobatic competitions and many were owned by private pilot owners. Both the two-seat Trener and the single-seat Akrobat were considered highly successful, winning several aerobatic awards in the 1960s.^[2]

Variants

The following variants were progressive improvements on the Z-26:

Z-26 – two-seat primary trainer aircraft. 163 built.^[3]
Z-126 – introduced in 1953, Czech military designation C-105, all-metal wing instead of original wooden wing.^[2]
Z-226 – more powerful Walter Minor 6-III six-cylinder engine, C-205
- Z-226A – single-seat aerobatic aircraft. This and subsequent single-seat variants were named the Akrobat.^[4]
- Z-226B – glider tug aircraft
- Z-226T – basic training version
Z-326 – Introduced in 1959, with an electrically retractable undercarriage (standard on future models)^[2]
- C-305 – military version of Z-326 with night-flight capability and military-class cockpit equipment
Z-526 – with the Walter 6-III carburettor's six-cylinder engine
- Z-526A – single-seat aerobatic aircraft
- Z-526F – Improved version. M-137 engine with fuel injector.
Z-726 – modified 526 with shortened wings and fuselage
- Z-726K – with Walter M 337 supercharged engine

In 1956, deliveries began of the Z326 Trener-Master and Z326A Akrobat.^[2] Many sub-variants were also produced, for example the Z-526A and Z-526AFS were aerobatic specials. The production of the family was terminated in the 1970s with Z-726. The Z-726 Universal had reduced wingspan.^[2]

Operators

Military operators

Austria: Austrian Air Force
Cuba: Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force - received about 60 Z-226, Z-326 and Z-526s in the 1960s.^[5]
Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovakian Air Force
East Germany: Air Forces of the National People's Army^{[citation needed]}
Egypt
Iraq^[6]
Mozambique
Yemen

Specifications (Z-726)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77 ^[7]

General characteristics

Crew: two
Length: 7.975 m (26 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 9.875 m (32 ft 5 in)
Height: 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 14.89 m² (160.3 sq ft)
Airfoil: root:NACA 2418; tip:NACA 4412
Empty weight: 700 kg (1,543 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 1,000 kg (2,205 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Avia M 137AZ 6-cyl, air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine, 134 kW (180 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 236 km/h (147 mph, 127 kn)
Cruise speed: 216 km/h (134 mph, 117 kn)
Stall speed: 98 km/h (61 mph, 53 kn) (flaps down)
Range: 440 km (270 mi, 240 nmi)
Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,800 ft)
Rate of climb: 5 m/s (980 ft/min)

References

^ Mourik 2001, p.61.
^ a b c d e Frawley 1997, p.198.
^ Taylor 1989, p.908.
^ William Greene; The Observer's World Aircraft Directory, Warne, 1961, pp. 318, 334.
^ Hagedorn 1993, p. 29.
^ Mourik 2001, p.64.
^ Taylor 1976, pp. 33–34.

Frawley, Gerard. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 1997 ISBN 1-875671-26-9
Hagedorn, Daniel P. Central American and Caribbean Air Forces. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1993. ISBN 0-85130-210-6.
Mourik, Dick van. "A to Zlin: An Illustrated History of a Light Aircraft Dynasty". Air Enthusiast, No. 93, May/June 2001. Stamford, UK:Key Publishing. ISSN 0143-5450. pp. 59–65.
Taylor, John W R. (editor). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1976. ISBN 0 354 00538 3.
Taylor, Michael J.H. (editor). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London:Bracken Books, 1989. ISBN 1 85170 324 1.

External links

Media related to Zlín Z-26 at Wikimedia Commons