Zlín Z-26

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

Last updated October 14, 2023

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

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 ^{[ citation needed ]}
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)

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References

↑ Mourik 2001, p.61.
1 2 3 4 5 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

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

[Frawley_p198-2] 1 2 3 4 5 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.

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v t e 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

v t e 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