| Zlin Aircraft | |
| Logo Alt: | Zlin Aircraft |
| Industry: | Aerospace |
| Predecessors: | --> |
| Successors: | --> |
| Founders: | --> |
| Hq Location City: | Otrokovice, Zlín |
| Hq Location Country: | Czech Republic |
| Areas Served: | --> |
| Owners: | --> |
Zlin Aircraft a.s. (former well known name Moravan Otrokovice) is a Czech light aircraft company. It is located at the Zlín Airfield on the outskirts of Otrokovice. It is known for the line of Z-26 Trener and other small aircraft like crop-dusting Z-37 and aerobatics special Z-50.
Founded in 1934 as Zlínská letecká společnost, a. s. (Zlín Aviation company), by Zlín-based company Baťa, it started to produce glider and single engine aircraft trainers. Later production expanded to segments of sport and agriculture aircraft. Trainer Z-XII became the most popular type of the era.
During the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, the factory was known as Zlínské letecké závody, a.s. (Zlin Aviation Works JSC). It produced German trainer types Klemm Kl 35, after the war known as C-1 in Czechoslovakia, and a low-wing Bücker Bü 181 which was later produced as Z-181 (military designation C-6).
After WWII, the company was nationalised and used its official name Zlínské letecké závody, a.s. v národní správě (Zlín Aviation Works JSC under National Administration) and later on, it was incorporated to the Automobilové závody, národní podnik (Automotive Works, National Enterprise) as its Otrokovice Plant using its new trade name Zlínavion. In mid-Sept 1948, the factory became a part of newly established Let, národní podnik (seated in Prague) as its Plant No.7 in Otrokovice (nominally merged with Zlin and renamed to Gottwaldov on 1 January 1949).
In 1953 a new name Moravan, was adopted and marked the beginning of the most famous period for the company.Series of Z-26 Trener were produced in the 1960s and 70s in large numbers for domestic civil and military use as well as export to both eastern and western customers. The type was one of the most popular for modern aerobatics competitions and it contributed to definition of high performance aerobatics specials. Other Zlin aircraft from the time are crop-dusting Z-37 Čmelák, Reliable all-metal trainers, two seat Z-42/142 and four seat Z-43 and a new aerobatics special Z-50 which was a next generation aerobatics type replacing the Z-26 series in competitions.
The state enterprise was transformed to a joint-stock company after the fall of the Communist regime. It continued in production of the Z-42 and Z-43 series but the sales were rapidly falling and the sales network became disorganized as the company organization did not adapt to the market changes from centrally organized eastern markets to the free competition. Also the aircraft design was outdated (mainly engines) and the company could not find customers for its specific advantages (reliability and simple maintenance). The company suffered financial problems in 2002, it was renamed Moravan-Aeroplanes a.s. and it continued production of upgraded variants of Z-242L and Z-143L with improved wing design and Lycoming engines. It also prepared the Z-143Lsi variant with fuel injection engine. However, the financial situation became even worse and the company declared bankruptcy in 2005. In December 2006, the company was taken over by CzechAircraft, s. r. o. owned by Irish QucomHaps Holding Ltd. represented by Billy Harkin and renamed Moravan Aviation s.r.o.
The production line has not changed and the backbone of the company activities were Z-143L and Z-242L, followed by the finally certified variant of Z-143LSi. The business was also extended with sub-deliveries to other aircraft factories in the Czech Republic like Aero Vodochody and LET Aircraft Industries. But the revival was short-lived and the famed company was closed due to long-term poor financial results and management in March 2010.[1]
Zlin Aircraft a.s. was founded in July 2009 with a goal to take over the production of the Zlin aircraft. It bought all the rights to manufacture the current line of the Z-143L, Z-242L and Z-143Lsi as well as buildings, materials and personnel from Moravan Aviation. The company possesses all necessary certificates issued either by EASA or by local State authorities and/or ministries. Another notable activity is maintenance and overhauls of the Zlin aircraft which are still very popular.
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zlín Z-I | 1933 | 11 | Glider |
| Zlín Z-II | 1933 | 1 | Glider |
| Zlín Z-III | 1933 | 1 | Glider |
| Zlín Z-IV | 6 | Glider | |
| Zlín Z-V | 121 | Glider | |
| Zlín Z-VI | 28 | Glider | |
| Zlín Z-VII Akela | 2 | Glider | |
| Zlín Z-VIII Šidlo | 1934 | 2 | Glider |
| Zlín Z-IX Pošták | 1 | Light aircraft | |
| Zlín Z-X (I) | Ultralight aircraft project | ||
| Zlín Z-X (II) | 1936 | 3 | Glider |
| Zlín Z-XI | 1935 | 1 | Light aircraft |
| Zlín Z-XII | 1935 | 201 | Single engine sport airplane |
| Zlín Z-XIII | 1937 | 1 | Single engine racing aircraft |
| Zlín Z-XV | 1939 | 1 | Tourist aircraft |
| Zlín Z-XVIII | 1939 | 1 | Light aircraft |
| Zlín Z-XXI | Courier aircraft project | ||
| Zlín 212 | 1938 | 51 | Improved version of Z-XII with a Walter Mikron engine |
| Zlín Kl 35B | 323 | Single engine trainer; Klemm Kl 35B built under license | |
| Zlín Z-20 | 1946 | 1 | Twin engine transport |
| Zlín Z-22 Junak | 1947 | 31 | Single engine utility airplane developed from the Z-381 |
| Zlín Z-23 Honza | 1946 | 211 | Glider |
| Zlín Z-24 Krajanek | 1945 | 301 | Glider |
| Zlin Z-25 Šohaj | 1947 | 101 | Glider |
| Zlín Z-26 Trener | 1947 | 164 | Single engine trainer |
| Zlín Z-28 | 1947 four-seat utility aircraft project | ||
| Zlín Z-30 Kmotr | 1 | Glider | |
| Zlín Z-32 Frajir | Glider project | ||
| Zlín Z-33 Derviš | Single seat light sport aircraft project | ||
| Zlín Z-34 | 1958 twin-boom agricultural aircraft project | ||
| Zlín Z-35 Heli-Trener | 1960 | 1 | Experimental helicopter |
| Zlín Z-36 | 1960 single seat ultralight project | ||
| Zlin Z-37 Čmelák | 1963 | 790 | Single engine agricultural airplane |
| Zlín Z-38 | 1963 agricultural autogiro project | ||
| Zlín Z-39 | 1963 two-seat trainer project | ||
| Zlín Z-41 | 1967 | Single engine trainer[2] | |
| Zlín Z-42 | 1967 | 193 | Single engine trainer |
| Zlín Z-43 | 1968 | 80 | Single engine trainer/touring aircraft; four seat version of Z 42 |
| Zlín Z-44 | Projected single-seat aerobatic version of Z-42 | ||
| Zlín Z-45 | Single-seat agricultural aircraft project | ||
| Zlín Z-46 | 8-seat, twin engine light aircraft project | ||
| Zlín Z-47 | High-wing, 10-seat turboprop utility aircraft project | ||
| Zlín Z-48 | 10-seat, twin-boom pusher aircraft project | ||
| Zlín Z-50 | 1975 | 83 | Single engine aerobatic airplane |
| Zlín Z-51 | Early 1980s twin-boom trainer project | ||
| Zlín Z-52 | Two-seat basic trainer project | ||
| Zlín Z-90 | Four-seat twin-engine light aircraft project | ||
| Zlín Z-120 | Projected version of Z-20 with retractable landing gear | ||
| Zlín Z-122 | 1946 | 2 | Four-seat utility aircraft |
| Zlín Z-124 | 1949 | 4+80 | Glider |
| Zlín Z-125 Šohaj 2 | 1950 | 151 | Glider |
| Zlín Z-126 Trener 2 | 1953 | 167 | Single engine trainer |
| Zlín Z-130 Kmotr | 40 | Glider | |
| Zlín Z-135 | 1965 | 1 | Experimental helicopter |
| Zlín Z-137 Agro-Turbo | |||
| Zlín Z-142 | 1978 | 364 | Single engine trainer |
| Zlín Z-143 | 1992 | 56 to 143 | Single engine trainer |
| Zlín Z-181 | 71 | Single engine trainer; Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann built under license | |
| Zlín Z-192 | 2 | ||
| Zlín Z-225 Medâk | 1952 | 1 | Glider |
| Zlín Z-226 | 1955 | 364 | Single engine trainer |
| Zlín Z-242 | 1990 | 125 | Single engine trainer |
| Zlín Z-281 | 79 | Single engine trainer; Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann built under license | |
| Zlín Z-325 | Glider project; Z-125 with V-tail | ||
| Zlín Z-326 | 1957 | 436 | Single engine trainer |
| Zlín Z-381 | 315 | Single engine trainer; Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann built under license | |
| Zlín Z-425 Šohaj 3 | 1+140 | Glider | |
| Zlín Z-426 | 1960 light agricultural aircraft project | ||
| Zlín Z-526 | 1965 | 325 | Single engine trainer |
| Zlín Z-626 | 1967 projected simplified version of Z-526AS | ||
| Zlín Z-726 Universal | 1973 | 32 | Single engine trainer |
| Zlín Bü 181 | 783 | Single engine trainer; Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann built under license | |
| Zlín HC 2 | 1 to 36 | Helicopter | |
| Zlín HC 102 | 1 to 36 | Helicopter | |
| Zlín Herkules H1 | 6 | ||
| Zlín Herkules H2 | 153 | ||
| Zlín Herkules H3 | 522 | ||
| Zlín PLK 5 | 1 | ||