Zlín Z-26

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

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

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, 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
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.
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

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[Zlin_p61-1] Mourik 2001, p.61.

[Frawley_p198-2] Frawley 1997, p.198.

[Janes_Ency_p908-3] Taylor 1989, p.908.

[4] William Greene; The Observer's World Aircraft Directory, Warne, 1961, pp. 318, 334.

[5] Hagedorn 1993, p. 29.

[Zlin_p64-6] Mourik 2001, p.64.

[Janes_76_p33-4-7] Taylor 1976, pp. 33–34.

Aircraft produced by Zlín and Moravan
Manufacturer designations	Z-I Z-II Z-III Z-IV Z-V Z-VI Z-VII Z-VIII Z-IX Z-X Z-XI Z-XII Z-XIII Z-13 Z-XIV Z-XV Z-XVI Z-XVII¹ Z-XVIII Z-XIX¹ Z-20 Z-XXI/21 Z-22 Z-23¹ Z-24 Z-25 Z-26 Z-27¹ Z-28 Z-29¹ Z-30 Z-31¹ Z-32 Z-33 Z-34 Z-35 Z-36 Z-37 Z-38 Z-39 Z-40¹ Z-41 Z-42 Z-43 Z-44 Z-45 Z-46 Z-47 Z-48 Z-49¹ Z-50 Z-51 Z-52 Z-53 through Z-59¹ Z-60 Z-61 Z-62 through Z-89¹ Z-90 Z-91 through Z-112¹ Z-113 Z-114 through Z-119¹ Z-120 Z-121¹ Z-122 Z-123¹ Z-124¹ Z-125 Z-126 Z-127 through Z-134¹ Z-135 Z-136¹ Z-137 Z-138¹ Z-139¹ Z-140¹ Z-141¹ Z-142 Z-143 Z-144 through Z-180¹ Z-181 Z-182 through Z-211¹ Z-212 Z-213 through Z-224¹ Z-225 Z-226 Z-227 through Z-236¹ Z-237 Z-238¹ Z-239¹ Z-240¹ Z-241¹ Z-242 Z-243 through Z-280¹ Z-281 Z-282 through Z-311¹ Z-312 Z-313 through Z-324¹ Z-325 Z-326 Z-327 through Z-336¹ Z-337 Z-338 through Z-380¹ Z-381 Z-382 through Z-399¹ Z-400 Z-401 through Z-425¹ Z-426 Z-427 through Z-436¹ Z-437 Z-438 through Z-525¹ Z-526 Z-527 through Z-625¹ Z-626 Z-627 through Z-725¹ Z-726
By name	Akrobat Čmelák Derviš Junak Savage Šohaj Trener Trener-Master
¹ Unknown/not assigned

Czechoslovak Air Force trainer aircraft designations, 1945–1958
Trainer (Cvičný)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7 C-8 C-9 C-10 C-11 C-12 C-13 C-14 C-15 C-16 C-19 C-23 C-25 C-26 C-30 C-103 C-104 C-105 C-106 C-110 C-112 C-205 C-206 C-210
Bomber Trainer (Cvičný Bombardovací)	CB-31 CB-32 CB-33 CB-36
Liason Trainer (Cvičný Kurýři)	CK-62
Fighter Trainer (Cvičný Stíhací)	CS-92 CS-95 CS-99 CS-102 CS-103 CS-199