Zlin Aircraft

Zlin Aircraft a.s. (former well known name Moravan Otrokovice) is a Czech 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 .

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	1979-present	364
Zlín Z-242 L, LA	1992-present	125
Zlín Z-143 L	1993-present	54
Zlín Z-143 LSi	2004-present	2
Total		7166

External links

• ZLIN AIRCRAFT a.s. - official site
• Zlin history on www.palba.cz part 1, part 2 (Czech)
• ZLÍN-AVION Service - popular ZLIN types maintenance company located in Otrokovice
• Zlin Aviation s.r.o. - another not-related company producing Italian Piper Cub replica "Savage".