Zlín Z 26

Trener
Z-126 Trener II
Role	Training aircraft
Manufacturer	Moravan Otrokovice
Produced	1948-1977

Zlin Trener is a family of aircraft that was based on a basic training aircraft, the Z-26.

The original Z-26 was designed in late 1940s and produced in 1946 by the Czechoslovakian company, Moravan to meet a requirement for a basic trainer to replace the Bücker Jungmann and Bestmann. It was a low-winged 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 Z-26 variants were 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

Zlin Z-226T Trener 6 exhibited at the 1957 Paris Air Show

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: all-metal wing instead of original wooden wing ^[2]
• Z-226 - more powerful Walter Minor 6-III six-cylinder engine, A.K.A. C-205
  • Z-226A - single-seat aerobatic aircraft
  • 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]
• 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 - with Walter M 337 supercharged engine.(used in Romania by sportive aviation with M-137 Sh engines under the name Zlin-726 Universal).
  • Z-726K - Improved version.

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

 Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakian Air Force

 East Germany

 Egypt

 Mozambique

Specifications (Z-726)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77 ^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• 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)
• Cruising speed: 216 km/h (134 mph; 117 kn)
• Stall speed: 98 km/h (61 mph; 53 kn) (flaps down)
• Range: 440 km (273 mi; 238 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,764 ft)
• Rate of climb: 5 m/s (980 ft/min)

See also

Media related to Zlín Z-26 at Wikimedia Commons

References

1. Mourik 2001, p.61.
2. Frawley 1997, p.198.
3. Taylor 1989, p.908.
4. Taylor 1976, pp. 33–34.

• Frawley, Gerard. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 1997 ISBN 1-875671-26-9
• 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.