The Zlín Z 43 is a Czech-built light aircraft that accommodates up to four passengers.
It is a derivative of the Zlín Z 42, a two-seater aircraft, and features a low-wing monoplane design.
The Zlín Z 143, an enhanced version of the Z 43, is still being manufactured.
Following the successful production of the Z-26 aircraft family, Moravan, a Czechoslovak aircraft manufacturer, embarked on the design of a new series of training aircraft, which became known as the Z-40 family.
Unlike its predecessor, the Z-40 family featured a side-by-side cockpit configuration.
The family comprised of two basic variants: the Zlín Z-42, a two-seat trainer, and the Zlin Z-43, a four-seat aircraft that could be used both as a trainer and a tourer.
The final design is an all-metal, low-wing monoplane with a single engine and a fixed nosewheel undercarriage.
The Z 43 model shares 80% of its structure with the Z 42 but features a modified fuselage that can accommodate up to four passengers and a more powerful engine.
The wings of the Z-43 have a greater span and lack the slight forward sweep of the Z-42.
The Z-43 aircraft made its inaugural flight on 10th December 1968, followed by the commencement of production in 1972.
However, it did not garner as much popularity as its two-seat counterpart, resulting in the discontinuation of production in 1977 after the completion of 80 aircraft.
In 1992, a modified version known as the Z-143 was introduced.
This variant was equipped with a six-cylinder Lycoming O-540 engine.
Simultaneously, the Z-42 model underwent a re-engineering process, incorporating a Lycoming engine to transform into the Z-242 model.
Variants
Zlín Z-43
Base model
Zlín Z-43L
Experimental model with Lycoming AE10540 D4B5 engine.
Has noticeable short engine cowling.
Only one was built in 1990.
It was converted back to stock Z 43 after 307 flight hours in 1998.
Zlín Z-43M
Experimental model.
Only one was built.
Zlín Z-143
Improved model
Aeronautical Manufacturing Enterprise Safir-43
An Algerian licence-built copy of the Zlín Z-43
Specifications
Z 43
Crew
1
Capacity
3 passengers
Length
7.75 m (25 ft 5 in)
Wingspan
9.76 m (32 ft 0 in)
Height
2.91 m (9 ft 7 in)
Wing area
14.50 m2 (156.1 sq ft)
Empty weight
730 kg (1,609 lb)
Max take-off weight
1,350 kg (2,976 lb)
Fuel capacity
130 L (34 US gal; 29 imp gal) normal,
Provision for additional 110 L (29 US gal; 24 imp gal) tanks in wingtips
Powerplant
1 × Avia M 337 A inverted six-cylinder air-cooled inline engine,
