The Zlin Z-26 Trener was a tandem-seat basic training aircraft that was manufactured by the Czechoslovakian company Moravan.
This low-wing monoplane was primarily constructed from wood and was subsequently developed into a range of all-metal trainers.
In addition, a number of aerobatic variants, known as the Akrobat, were also produced.
The original Z-26 was designed in the 1940s and was manufactured in 1946 to fulfill the requirement for a basic trainer that would replace the Bücker Jungmann and Bestmann.
It was a low-wing monoplane of mixed construction, featuring wooden wings and a welded metal tube fuselage, and was powered by a single four-cylinder piston engine, the Walter Minor 4-III.
The Z-26 first took flight in early 1947 and was deemed superior to the competing Praga 112, ultimately being declared the winner and entering production in 1948.
Later iterations were optimized for participation 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 numerous aerobatic awards in the 1960s.
Variants
Z-26
Two-seat primary trainer aircraft, 163 built.
Z-126
Introduced in 1953, Czech military designation C-105,
All-metal wing instead of original wooden wing.
Z-226
More powerful Walter Minor 6-III six-cylinder engine, C-205
Z-226A
Single-seat aerobatic aircraft
Z-226B
Glider tug aircraft
Z-226T
Basic training version
Z-326
Introduced in 1959, with an electrically retractable undercarriage.
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.
