| Zlin Z 43 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Light trainer/touring aircraft |
| National origin | Czechoslovakia |
| Manufacturer | Moravan Otrokovice |
| First flight | 10 December 1968 |
| Produced | 1972-1977 |
| Number built | 80 (Z 43) 63+ (Z 143)[1] |
| Developed from | Zlín Z 42 |
The Zlín Z 43 is a Czech four seat light aircraft. A development of the two seat Zlín Z 42, it is a low-winged monoplane. A developed version, the Zlín Z 143 remains in production.
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After successful production of the Z-26 aircraft family, the Czechoslovak aircraft manufacturer Moravan, began design of a new series of training aircraft, known as the Z-40 family. Unlike the previous tandem-seat aircraft the Z-40 family featured a side by side cockpit. It was available in two basic variants, a two seat trainer, the Zlín Z-42, and a four seat aircraft, the Zlin Z-43 capable of being used both as a trainer and a tourer.
The resulting design is a single-engined low-wing monoplane of all metal construction and a fixed nosewheel undercarriage. The Z 43 shares 80% of its structure with the Z 42, but is fitted with a revised fuselage accommodating a four seater cabin and a more powerful engine. The Z-43's wings are of greater span and do not have the slight forward sweep of the Z- 42.[2]
The Z-43 first flew on 10 December 1968,[2] with production starting in 1972. It proved less popular than its two seat contemporary, and production ended in 1977 after 80 aircraft were built.[3]
The Z-143 is a version introduced in 1992, powered by a six-cylinder Lycoming O-540 engine,[4] in parallel to the Z-42 being reengined with a Lycoming to become the Z-242.
These aeroplanes are excellent training aircraft due to their abilities starting with private pilot, commercial pilot, and instrument rating training, and ending with full aerobatic capability. They are very good for military use or flight school operation; but in field of general aviation they cannot compete with the simpler and lighter Cessna and Piper aircraft.
Pictures released by the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka indicate they operate Czech-built Zlin Z-143 single engine, four-seater light aircraft modified to carry four bombs mounted on the undercarriage. At around 4am on 9 September 2008, the Sri Lanka Air Force reportedly scored its first air to air kill when an F-7G successfully intercepted and brought down an Air Tigers Z-143 over Mullaittivu.[5]
The Air Tigers carried out a Suicide air raid on Colombo on 20 February 2009 using two of these aircraft. Under heavy anti-aircraft gun fire one of these aircraft crashed into Sri Lanka Inland Revenue Department building in Colombo and the other craft was shot down near Sri Lanka Air Force Base at Katunayake.[6]
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976-77 [7]
General characteristics
Performance
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