The Zlín Z 42 is a Czech single-engine two-seat trainer aircraft manufactured by Moravan Otrokovice. A developed version, the Z 142, is the most popular aircraft variant in the manufacturer's aircraft line.
Design and development
The aircraft were built by Moravan Aviation, founded in 1934 by Tomáš Baťa in Czechoslovakia.
As a follow-on and replacement for the successful Zlín Trener series of tandem aerobatic trainers, Moravan developed a new family of light aircraft, featuring a side-by-side seat layout, and comprising a two-seat trainer, the Zlín Z 42 and a four-seat trainer/tourer aircraft, the Zlín Z 43. The Z 42 first flew on 17 October 1967,J W R Taylor 1971, p.32. achieving airworthiness certification on 7 September 1970.J W R Taylor 1980, p.43.
The aircraft fuselage center section is of welded steel tube, covered with sheet metal and fiberglass panels. The tailcone is of monocoque construction. The empennage is of sheet metal. The two-spar wings are of all-metal construction. The tricycle landing gear is fixed, with a steerable nosewheel. Designed for aerobatics instruction, it was certified to +6.0 and -4.0 limit maneuvering load factors, and was equipped with full inverted fuel and oil systems, permitting extended inverted flight. The Z 42 is powered by a Walter inverted six-cylinder engine rated at 134 kW (180 hp).
The revised Zlín Z 42M flew in November 1972, with a revised tail taken from the Z 43, and a Constant speed propeller replacing the variable pitch propeller (where the propeller pitch is controlled by the pilot) of the original Z 42. When early Z 42s were refitted with the new propeller, they were redesignated Z 42 MU.
Development continued, with the Zlín Z 142, featuring a slightly enlarged two-seat airframe based on that of the Z 42 and the more powerful (157 kW (210 hp)) Walter (now LOM) M 337 fuel-injected inverted six-cylinder, supercharged air-cooled engine of the Z 43 replacing the unsupercharged LOM M137 engine of the Z 42. The prototype Z-142 first flew on 29 December 1978.J W R Taylor 1980, p.44.
In the late 1980s, further development work was initiated. The inverted inline engine was replaced with a four-cylinder horizontally opposed Lycoming IO-360 engine. This variant is designated the Z 242L Guru, and is immediately distinguishable by its relatively wide cowling which houses the flat-four engine.
In 2021, Zlin introduced a revised 242L called the Zeus. This has a less angular tail and more streamlined cockpit plus undercarriage revisions.Rod Simpson, Aviation World 2021, p.195
Fernas 142 Licence production of the Z 142 has been carried out in Algeria by ECA fernas (sometimes known as just Fernas) as the ECA-Fernas 142, complete with aerobatic modifications.
Operational history Two Z-142s were used by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in bombing sorties on the Sri Lankan airforce bases in Sri Lanka in 2007. In October 2008, the Zlíns were also used in an attack on a military base of the Sri Lanka Army, and a power station on the outskirts of the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka. A Zlin 242 was used by Chicago radio personality Bob Collins (broadcaster) until it crashed after colliding with another airplane.
Variants Zlín Z 42 Initial production version, powered by Avia M-137 engine. 48 built.Simpson 1995, p. 163 Zlín Z 42M Revised dorsal fin and constant speed propeller fitted. 149 built. Zlín Z 142 Forward-sliding bubble cockpit canopy. Powered by M-337AK engine.
Zlín Z 242 Zlín Z 242L Guru Zlín Z 242L Zeus Fernas 142 / ECA Fernas 142 (ECA - Entreprise de construction aéronautique) Algerian licence production of the Z 142, first flown in 1993.
Operators
Civilian The aircraft is popular with flying training organizations.
Government Flying Service
Military
Algerian Air Force - producing locally under Fernas-142 name
ADF - Australian Air Force Cadets - three in service used to train cadet pilots as of 2017
Bolivian Air Force - nine x Z242L ordered in May 2016.
Bulgarian Air Force - Z 42Hatch Flight International 29 November–5 December 1989, p. 45.
Cuban Air Force - Z-142Flight International 16–22 November 2004, p. 53.
Croatian Air Force and Air Defence - Z-242L
Flight Training Center Pardubice - Z-142Flight International 16–22 November 2004, p. 54.
Hungarian Air Force - Z-242L
North Macedonia Air Brigade - Z-242LFlight International 16–22 November 2004, p. 73.
Mexican Navy - Z-242
Peruvian Air Force - Z-242
Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence - Z-242"Zlin Z-242" . Ministry of Defence: Slovenian Armed Forces. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
Yemen Air Force - Z-242.Jackson 2003, p. 114. Separatist organizations Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - Air Tigers (formerly active in )
Specifications (Zlin 42M)
References Citations
Bibliography
Moravan official site. Accessed October 31, 2005.
External links
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Type-Certificate Data Sheet