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| Trenér | |
|---|---|
 Z-126 Trenér II | |
| General information | |
| Type | Training aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Moravan Otrokovice |
| Primary user | Czechoslovak Air Force |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1948–1977 |
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.
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.[1]
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.[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 Trenér-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
- Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force − Received about 60 Z-226, Z-326 and Z-526s in the 1960s.[6]
- Egyptian Air Force − 4 Z-126, transferred to Kingdom of Yemen[8]
- Air Forces of the National People's Army − 20, passed on to the German Air Force following the German reunification[9]
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- Iraqi Air Force[10] − 15 Z-526A and 25 Z-526F[11]
- Mozambique Air Force − 7 Z-326s, remained in service as late as of 2010[update][12]
- Yemeni Air Force − 10 Z-126s[13]
Specifications (Z-726)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77[14]
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.
- ^ a b c d e Frawley 1997, p.198.
- ^ Taylor 1989, p.908.
- ^ William Greene; The Observer's World Aircraft Directory, Warne, 1961, pp. 318, 334.
- ^ Wragg 2011, p. 65.
- ^ Hagedorn 1993, p. 29.
- ^ Wragg 2011, p. 108.
- ^ Smisek 2023, p. 115.
- ^ Correll 1991, p. 75.
- ^ Mourik 2001, p.64.
- ^ Smisek 2023, p. 37.
- ^ Wragg 2011, pp. 208−209.
- ^ Smisek 2023, pp. 115−116.
- ^ Taylor 1976, pp. 33–34.
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
