Photograph:
Zlin 142C VH-ZLA (c/n 0563) at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon, VIC (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Czech Republic
Description:
Two-seat training and sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 157 kw (210 hp) Walter Avia M-337AK six-cylinder inverted in-line air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.16 m (30 ft 0½ in)
- Length: 7.33 m (24 ft 0½ in)
- Height: 2.75 m (9 ft 0¼ in)
- Max speed at sea level: 230 km/h (143 mph)
- Cruising speed at 210 m (700 ft): 230 km/h (143 mph)
- Rate of climb: 330 m/min (1,082 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,400 ft)
- Take-off distance to 15 m (50 ft): 430 m (1,410 ft)
- Landing distance from 15 m (50 ft): 395 m (1,296 ft)
- Range: 940 km (584 miles)
- Empty weight: 730 kg (1,609 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,090 kg (2,403 lb)
History:
The Z-142 was an all-metal two-seat training aircraft with full aerobatic capability manufactured by Moravan Inc at Otrokovice in the Czech Republic, being developed from the Z-42. This Company had been building powered aircraft and gliders since 1934 under the name Zlin. With load factors of +6 and –3.5G the type could be used for glider or streamer towing.
The prototype Z-142 first flew on 29 December 1978 and, compared to the Z-42, had a new engine/propeller combination, new cockpit and instrumentation layout, and a new cockpit canopy, the old model featuring two side doors incorporating windows and a fixed roof transparency whereas the Z-142 had a two piece canopy divided along the centre line and sliding forward to open. The M-337AK engine drove an Avia V 500A two-blade constant speed propeller and had provision for prolonged inverted operation. Operational weights in the aerobatic, utility, and normal categories were increased, the aerobatic weight being sufficient for two pilots fully-equipped with parachutes and a full fuel load. In the normal category a full suite of radio and navaids, and an allowance for baggage, was available.
First of the type in Australia was a Z-142C (c/n 0563) imported in early 1995 as OK-ANC by the Australian distributors, Motokov Australia of Port Melbourne, VIC which subsequently became VH-ZLA on 19 June 1996, later being exported to Canada on 27 March 2002 where it became C-GZNZ.