Zlín Z 43

Zlin Z 43
Role Light trainer/touring aircraft
National origin Czechoslovakia
Manufacturer Moravan Otrokovice
First flight 10 December 1968
Status In production (Z143 LSi model, 2011)[1]
Produced 1972-1977
Number built 80 (Z 43)
63+ (Z 143)[2]
Developed from Zlín Z 42

The Zlín Z 43 is a Czech four seat light aircraft. A development of the two seat Zlín Z 42, it is a low-winged monoplane. A developed version, the Zlín Z 143 remains in production.

Design and development

After successful production of the Z-26 aircraft family, the Czechoslovak aircraft manufacturer Moravan, began design of a new series of training aircraft, known as the Z-40 family. Unlike the previous tandem-seat aircraft the Z-40 family featured a side by side cockpit. It was available in two basic variants, a two-seat trainer, the Zlín Z-42, and a four-seat aircraft, the Zlin Z-43 capable of being used both as a trainer and a tourer.

The resulting design is a single-engined low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction and a fixed nosewheel undercarriage. The Z 43 shares 80% of its structure with the Z 42, but is fitted with a revised fuselage accommodating a four-seater cabin and a more powerful engine. The Z-43's wings are of greater span and do not have the slight forward sweep of the Z- 42.[3]

The Z-43 first flew on 10 December 1968,[3] with production starting in 1972. It proved less popular than its two-seat contemporary, and production ended in 1977 after 80 aircraft were built.[4]

The Z-143 is a version introduced in 1992, powered by a six-cylinder Lycoming O-540 engine,[5] in parallel to the Z-42 being reengined with a Lycoming to become the Z-242.

These aeroplanes are excellent training aircraft due to their abilities starting with private pilot, commercial pilot, and instrument rating training, and ending with full aerobatic capability. They are very good for military use or flight school operation; but in field of general aviation they cannot compete with the simpler and lighter Cessna and Piper aircraft.

Variants

Zlín Z 43
Base model
Zlín Z 143
Improved model
Aeronautical Manufacturing Enterprise Safir-43
An Algerian licence-built copy of the Zlín Z 43

Operational history

Use by Tamil Tigers

Pictures released by the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka indicate they operated Czech-built Zlin Z-143 single engine, four-seater light aircraft modified to carry four bombs mounted on the undercarriage. At around 4am on 9 September 2008, the Sri Lanka Air Force reportedly achieved its first air-to-air kill when an F-7G successfully intercepted and brought down an Air Tigers Z-143 over Mullaittivu.[6]

The Air Tigers carried out a Suicide air raid on Colombo on 20 February 2009 using two of these aircraft. Under heavy anti-aircraft gun fire one of these aircraft crashed into Sri Lanka Inland Revenue Department building in Colombo and the other craft was shot down near Sri Lanka Air Force Base at Katunayake.[7]

Operators

Civil operators

 Hungary

Military operators

 Cuba
 East Germany
 Hungary
 Macedonia

Specifications (Z 43)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976-77 [8]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development


References

  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 171. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. "History of production of ZLIN aircraft". Zlin Aircraft. Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  3. 1 2 J.W.R. Taylor 1977, p.32.
  4. Donald 1997, p.925.
  5. Wood, Derek (1989). Jane's World Aircraft Recognition Handbook. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0587-0.
  6. Security Forces crush major terror attack at Vavuniya
  7. "Tamil Tiger planes raid Colombo". BBC, 21 February 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  8. J.W.R. Taylor 1976, pp.32—33

External links

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