Zlín Z 226

Zlín · Czechoslovakia · first flew 1955 · light aircraft

The Zlín Z 226 was a Czechoslovak two-seat light training and aerobatic monoplane developed from the wartime Z 26 family. It served as a primary and advanced trainer for Eastern Bloc air forces and flying clubs.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7.58 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Czech low-wing monoplane trainer and aerobatic aircraft
Side-by-side or tandem seating depending on variant
Rounded wing tips and inverted-inline engine

A clean, round-winged low-wing monoplane with a neat cowled inverted inline engine — closely related in appearance to the Z 126 and Z 326, distinguishable mainly by detail differences in cowling and canopy.

Specifications

The Zlín Z 226 has a length of 7.58 m (25 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.6 m (35 ft).
Its maximum speed is 225 km/h (140 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1955, the Z 226 continued the Zlín tradition of producing capable, agile trainers and aerobatic aircraft. Variants were produced for military training, aerobatic competition, and civilian flying club use, and the type was exported to numerous Soviet-aligned states. It formed the basis for subsequent Zlín designs into the 1960s.

Variants

The Z 226A was the basic trainer; the Z 226B was the aerobatic variant; the Z 226T used a Walter Minor engine. The Z 226MS was a further development.

Where you'll see it

Operated by Czechoslovak, East German, Hungarian, and other Warsaw Pact air forces and flying clubs; also exported to Cuba and Egypt.

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