Zlín Z 42 Explained

The Zlín Z 42 is a single-engine two-seat Czechoslovakian trainer aircraft manufactured by Moravan Otrokovice. A developed version, the Z 142, is the most popular aircraft variant in the manufacturer's aircraft line.

Design and development

The aircraft were built by Moravan Aviation, founded in 1934 by Tomáš Baťa in Czechoslovakia.

As a follow-on and replacement for the successful Zlín Trener series of tandem aerobatic trainers, Moravan developed a new family of light aircraft, featuring a side-by-side seat layout, and comprising a two-seat trainer, the Zlín Z 42 and a four-seat trainer/tourer aircraft, the Zlín Z 43. The Z 42 first flew on 17 October 1967,[1] achieving airworthiness certification on 7 September 1970.[2]

The aircraft fuselage center section is of welded steel tube, covered with sheet metal and fiberglass panels. The tailcone is of monocoque construction. The empennage is of sheet metal. The two-spar wings are of all-metal construction. The tricycle landing gear is fixed, with a steerable nosewheel. Designed for aerobatics instruction, it was certified to +6.0 and -4.0 limit maneuvering load factors, and was equipped with full inverted fuel and oil systems, permitting extended inverted flight. The Z 42 is powered by a Walter inverted six-cylinder engine rated at 134 kW (180 hp).

The revised Zlín Z 42M flew in November 1972, with a revised tail taken from the Z 43, and a Constant speed propeller replacing the variable pitch propeller (where the propeller pitch is controlled by the pilot) of the original Z 42. When early Z 42s were refitted with the new propeller, they were redesignated Z 42 MU.[2]

Development continued, with the Zlín Z 142, featuring a slightly enlarged two-seat airframe based on that of the Z 42 and the more powerful (157 kW (210 hp)) Walter (now LOM) M 337 fuel-injected inverted six-cylinder, supercharged air-cooled engine of the Z 43 replacing the unsupercharged LOM M137 engine of the Z 42. The prototype Z-142 first flew on 29 December 1978.[3]

In the late 1980s, further development work was initiated. The inverted inline engine was replaced with a four-cylinder horizontally-opposed Lycoming IO-360 engine. This variant is designated the Z 242L Guru, and is immediately distinguishable by its relatively wide cowling which houses the flat-four engine.

in 2021 Zlin introduced a revised 242L called the Zeus. This has a less angular tail and more streamlined cockpit plus undercarriage revisions.[4]

Fernas 142

Licence production of the Z 142 has been carried out in Algeria by ECA fernas (sometimes known as just Fernas) as the ECA-Fernas 142, complete with aerobatic modifications.[5]

Operational history

Two Z-142s were used by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in bombing sorties on the Sri Lankan airforce bases in Sri Lanka in 2007.[6] In October 2008 the Zlíns were also used in an attack on a military base of the Sri Lanka Army, and a power station on the outskirts of the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka. A Zlin 242 was used by Chicago radio personality Bob Collins (broadcaster) until it crashed after colliding with another airplane.[7] [8]

Variants

Zlín Z 42: Initial production version, powered by 180hp Avia M-137 engine. 48 built.[9]
  • Zlín Z 42M: Revised dorsal fin and constant speed propeller fitted. 149 built.[9]
  • Zlín Z 142: Forward-sliding bubble cockpit canopy. Powered by 225hp M-337AK engine.[9]
  • Zlín Z 242: 2000NaN0 [10]
  • Zlín Z 242L Guru:
  • Zlín Z 242L Zeus:
  • Fernas 142 / ECA Fernas 142: (ECA - Entreprise de construction aéronautique) Algerian licence production of the Z 142, first flown in 1993.[11] [12]

    • Operators

    Civilian

    The aircraft is popular with flying training organizations.

    Military

    Separatist organizations

    References

    Citations
  • Bibliography

    • External links

    Notes and References

    1. J W R Taylor 1971, p.32.
    2. J W R Taylor 1980, p.43.
    3. J W R Taylor 1980, p.44.
    4. Rod Simpson, Aviation World 2021, p.195
    5. Web site: Le parc aérien de l'Al Quwwat Aljawwiya Aljaza'eriiya en 2018 et en images - avionslegendaires.net. avionslegendaires.net. 28 April 2018. fr-FR. 23 April 2018.
    6. News: Flying Tigers rule the air. 2008-10-29. London. Bruce. May 2007. The Australian.
    7. News: Tigers bomb army base, power station. 2008-10-29. Athas. Iqbal. October 2008 . CNN.
    8. Web site: Tigers launch airstrike in Mannaar, Colombo. 2008-10-29. TamilNet. October 2008.
    9. Simpson 1995, p. 163
    10. Intro to Aerobatics Taught in Zlin Z-242. Flying Magazine. 126. 11. November 1999. 69.
    11. Web site: ECA Firnas-142. www.aviationsmilitaires.net. fr.
    12. Web site: L'Algerie veut commercialiser ces avions Safir 43 et Firnas 142 (m.... Skyrock. 28 April 2018. fr. 31 October 2007.
    13. Web site: GFS fleet . gfs.gov.hk . 12 March 2013.
    14. Web site: Des avions... made in Algeria. Aeronautique.ma. 17 January 2016.
    15. Book: Jubbs, Leslie R.. Royal Australian Air Force Air Training Corps : now the Australian Air Force Cadets in Western Australia, 1941 to 2001. 2003. [L.R. Jubbs?]. 223680441.
    16. Air-Britain News. 1145. Military Aviation. July 2016. 0950-7442. Air-Britain.
    17. Hatch Flight International 29 November–5 December 1989, p. 45.
    18. Flight International 16–22 November 2004, p. 53.
    19. Web site: Hrvatski vojni piloti na češkim avionima . . 3 April 2006 . 7 July 2012 . Croatian military pilots in Czech planes . hr . 3 September 2012 . live . https://archive.today/20120903201748/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/24275/hrvatski-vojni-piloti-na-ceskim-avionima .
    20. Flight International 16–22 November 2004, p. 54.
    21. Web site: Hungary purchases light aircraft from Zlin . 17 January 2017 . janes.com.
    22. Flight International 16–22 November 2004, p. 73.
    23. http://www.slovenskavojska.si/en/armament-and-equipment/aircrafts-and-helicopters/zlin-z-242/ "Zlin Z-242"
    24. Jackson 2003, p. 114.

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