Zlín Z-26

The Zlin Z-26 Trenér was a tandem-seat basic training aircraft built by the Czechoslovak 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.

Trenér
Z-126 Trenér II
General information
Type	Training aircraft
Manufacturer	Moravan Otrokovice
Primary user	Czechoslovak Air Force
History
Manufactured	1948–1977

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 E-112, and was declared the winner, entering production in 1948.

Later derivatives were also optimised to participate in aerobatic competitions and many were owned by private pilot owners. Both the two-seat Trenér and the single-seat Akrobat were considered highly successful, winning several aerobatic awards in the 1960s.

Variants

Zlin Z-226T Trenér 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.
• Z-126 – introduced in 1953, Czech military designation C-105, all-metal wing instead of original wooden wing.
• 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.
  • Z-226B – glider tug aircraft
  • Z-226T – basic training version
• Z-326 – Introduced in 1959, with an electrically retractable undercarriage (standard on future models)
  • 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 Trenér-Master and Z326A Akrobat. 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.

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.

Czechoslovakia

• Czechoslovak Air Force

Egypt

• Egyptian Air Force − 4 Z-126, transferred to Kingdom of Yemen

East Germany

• Air Forces of the National People's Army − 20, passed on to the German Air Force following the German reunification

Iraq

• Iraqi Air Force − 15 Z-526A and 25 Z-526F

Mozambique

• Mozambique Air Force − 7 Z-326s, remained in service as late as of 2010

Kingdom of Yemen

• Yemeni Air Force − 10 Z-126s

Specifications (Z-726)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77

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

Bibliography

• Correll, John T. (January 1991). "The Luftwaffe Looks Ahead". Air Force Magazine. 74 (1). Arlington, Virginia: Air Force Association.: 72–75. ISSN 0730-6784 – via Google Books.
• 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.
• Smisek, Martin (2023). Czechoslovak Arms Exports to the Middle East: Volume 4 - Iran, Iraq, Yemen Arab Republic and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen 1948−1989. Warwick, England: Helion and Company. ISBN 978-1-80451-524-2 – via Google Books.
• 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.
• Wragg, David (2011). The World Air Power Guide. Havertown, Pennsylvania: Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84468-784-8 – via Google Books.

External links

• Media related to Zlín Z-26 at Wikimedia Commons