Zlin Z-143
| Zlin Z 43 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Role | Light trainer/touring aircraft |
| National origin | Czechoslovakia |
| Manufacturer | Moravan Otrokovice |
| First flight | 10 December 1968 |
| Status | In production (Z143 LSi model, 2011) |
| Produced | 1972-1977 |
| Number built | 80 (Z 43) 1 (Z 43M) 63+ (Z 143) |
| 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-wing monoplane. A developed version, the Zlín Z 143 remains in production.
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.
The Z-43 first flew on 10 December 1968, with production starting in 1972. It proved less popular than its two-seat contemporary, and production ended in 1977 after 80 aircraft were built.
The Z-143 is a version introduced in 1992, powered by a six-cylinder Lycoming O-540 engine, 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; in the field of general aviation however, they cannot compete with the simpler and lighter Cessna and Piper aircraft.
Pictures released by the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka indicate that they operated 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 achieved its first air-to-air kill when an F-7G successfully intercepted and brought down an Air Tigers Z-143 over Mullaittivu.
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