Zlin Aviation

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ZLIN AIRCRAFT a.s. Otrokovice (former well known name Moravan Otrokovice) is a Czech (and formerly Czechoslovak) aircraft company located at Otrokovice Airfield on the outskirts of Otrokovice, famous for the line of Z-26 TRENER and other small aircraft like crop-dusting Z-37 and aerobatics special Z-50.

History

1934-1938 Zlínská letecká společnost, a. s.

Founded in 1934 as Zlínská letecká společnost, a. s. (Zlin Aviation company), by Zlín-based company Bata, it started to produce glider and single engine aircraft trainers. Later production expanded to segments of sport and agriculture aircraft. Trainer Z-XII became the most popular type of the era.

1938-1945 Zlínské letecké závody, a.s.

During the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, the factory was known as Zlínské letecké závody, a.s. (Zlin Aviation Works JSC). It produced German trainer types Klemm Kl 35, after the war known as C-1 in Czechoslovakia, and a low-wing Bücker Bü 181 which was later produced as Z-181 (military designation C-6).

1945-1952 Zlínavion

After WW II, the company was nationalised and used its official name Zlínské letecké závody, a.s. v národní správě (Zlín Aviation Works JSC under National Administration) and later on, it was incorporated to the Automobilové závody, národní podnik (Automotive Works, National Enterprise) as its Otrokovice Plant using its new trade name Zlínavion. In mid-Sept 1948, the factory became a part of newly established Let, národní podnik (seated in Prague) as its Plant No.7 in Otrokovice (nominally merged with Zlin and renamed to Gottwaldov on 1 January 1949).

1953-1989 Moravan, n.p.

In 1953 a new name Moravan, was adopted and marked the beginning of the most famous period for the company. Series of Z-26 Trener were produced in the 1960s and 70s in large numbers for domestic civil and military use as well as export to both eastern and western customers. The type was one of the most popular for modern aerobatics competitions and it contributed to definition of high performance aerobatics specials. Other Zlin aircraft from the time are crop-dusting Z-37 Čmelák, Reliable all-metal trainers, two seat Z-42/142 and four seat Z-43 and a new aerobatics special Z-50 which was a next generation aerobatics type replacing the Z-26 series in competitions.

1990-2006 Moravan a.s.

The state enterprise was transformed to a joint-stock company after the fall of the Communist regime. It continued in production of the Z-42 and Z-43 series but the sales were rapidly falling and the sales network became disorganized as the company organization did not adapt to the market changes from centrally organized eastern markets to the free competition. Also the aircraft design was outdated (mainly engines) and the company could not find customers for its specific advantages (reliability and simple maintenance). The company suffered financial problems in 2002, it was renamed Moravan-Aeroplanes a.s. and it continued production of upgraded variants of Z-242L and Z-143L with improved wing design and Lycoming engines. It also prepared the Z-143Lsi variant with fuel injection engine. However, the financial situation became even worse and the company declared bankruptcy in 2005. In December 2006, the company was taken over by CzechAircraft, s. r. o. owned by Irish QucomHaps Holding Ltd. represented by Billy Harkin and renamed Moravan Aviation s.r.o.

2006-2010 Moravan Aviation s.r.o.

The production line has not changed and the backbone of the company activities were Z-143L and Z-242L, followed by the finally certified variant of Z-143LSi. The business was also extended with sub-deliveries to other aircraft factories in the Czech Republic like Aero Vodochody and LET Aircraft Industries. But the revival was short-lived and the famed company was closed due to long-term poor financial results and management in March 2010 [1].

Since 2009 - ZLIN AIRCRAFT a.s.

ZLIN AIRCRAFT a.s. was founded in July 2009 with a goal to take over the production of the ZLIN aircraft. It bought all the rights to manufacture the current line of the Z-143L, Z-242L and Z-143Lsi as well as buildings, materials and personnel from the Moravan Aviation. The company possesses all necessary certificates issued either by EASA or by local State authorities and/or ministries. Another notable activity is maintenance and overhauls of the ZLIN aircraft which are still very popular.


Zlin 42M

List of Zlin aircraft types

Model Production Number produced
Glider
ZLIN I 1933-1935 11
ZLIN II 1933 1
ZLIN III 1934 1
ZLIN IV 1934-1935 6
ZLIN V 1934-1935 121
ZLIN VII 1934 2
ZLIN VI 1935-1936 28
ZLIN X 1936 3
ZLIN VIII 1936 2
New aircraft
Kl 35B 1939-1942 323
Bücker 181 1941-1945 783
Helicopter
HC 2, HC 102 1957-1962 36
Z 35, Z 135 1960 1
Powered Aircraft
Zlín IX 1934 1
Zlín XI 1935 1
Zlín Z-XII 1935-1939 201
Zlín 212 1937-1939 51
Zlín Z-XIII 1937 1
Zlín XVIII 1939-1940 1
Zlín XV 1939 2
Zlín Z-20 1939-1946 1
Zlín Z-181 1945-1946 71
Zlín Z-281 1946-1949 79
Zlín Z-192 1946-1949 2
Zlín Z-381 1947-1953 315
Zlín Z-22 1949-1950 31
PLK 5 1950 1
Glider
Zlín Z-13, Zlín Z-113 1946-1949 211
Zlín Z-24 1946-1949 301
Zlín Z-25 1947-1949 101
Zlín Z-30, Zlín Z-130 1948-1952 41
Zlín Z-124 1949-1950 4
Zlín Z-125 1950-1952 151
Zlín Z-225 1952 1
Zlín Z-425 1954 1
Engines
Persy I 1935-1937 31
Persy II 1936-1939 270
Persy III 1939 3
Toma 4 1946-1949 106
Toma 6 1949 2
Tornos
Herkules H1 1948 6
Herkules H2 1949-1952 153
Herkules H3 1957-1961 522
Trainers
Zlín Z 26 1947-1951 164
Zlín Z-126 1954-1956 167
Zlín Z-226 A, B, T, AS 1956-1961 364
Zlín Z-326 A, TM 1959-1968 436
Zlín Z-526 F, L, A, AS, AF, AFS, FI 1966-1974 325
Zlín Z-726 U, K 1973-1974 32
Agricultural aircraft
Zlín Z 37 1962-1985 739
Zlín Z-37 T 1985-1994 51
Aerobatic aircraft
Zlín Z-50 L, LS, LX, LE, M 1975-1994 83
Serie 40
Zlín Z 43, Z 143 S, L 1974-1981 87
Zlín Z-42 M, MU, L 1974-1980 193
Zlín Z-142 L, C, CAF from 1979 364
Zlín Z-242 L, LA from 1992 125
Zlín Z-143 L from 1993 54
Zlín Z-143 LSi from 2004 2
Total 7166

External links