Zlin Z-50

infobox Aircraft
name = Zlin Z-50
type = Sports plane
logo =
manufacturer = Zlin Aircraft

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caption = Z-50LX flown by The Flying Bulls Aerobatics Team
designer =
first flight = 18 July, 1975
introduction = 1975
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built =
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = The Zlin Z-50 is one of the most famous sports planes used in aerobatics. It was made by the Czechoslovakian fabricator Zlin Aircraft.

History

In autumn 1973 it was decided in Moravan Otrokovice to develop a new single seat aerobatic airplane. The design team was headed by Jan Mikula, a noted Czech designer. During the design phase, computer optimization was used to optimize the desired aerodynamic characteristics. The principal goal was to determine the optimum engine and propeller combination for this aircraft. Designers settled on the Avco Lycoming AIO-540 D4B5 horizontally-opposed six-cylinder piston engine, rated at 194 kW (260 HP), driving a three-blade Hartzell constant speed propeller.

The prototype Zline Z-50L (L for its engine), with civil registration OK-070, first flew 18 months after start of design work, on 18 July, 1975. The first flights were very successful and confirmed all of the designers' promises. The Czech Aerobatic Team would bargain for this plane in World Aerobatic Championship in 1976.

The Z-50L became the first composite fabricated special aerobatic airplane in the world. It was certified per the US FAR regulations, with limit maneuvering load factors of +9.0 and -6.0.

In 1981, a more powerful Textron Lycoming AEIO-540 L1B5D with 224 kW (300 HP) was installed. This version was the Zlin Z-50LS and was first flown by Zdenek Polasek on 29 July, 1981. The more powerful engine enhanced vertical maneuvers. The Zlin Z-50LS can fly with a weight of 760 kg from +8G to –6G in the aerobatic planes category (A Category), and between +3,8 and –1,52 in the normal category (N category). Many Z-50 L and LA versions were rebuilt to the Z-50LS standard in the early 1980s.

Another version derived from the Zlin Z-50 aircraft is a "baby fifty" – Z-50M with a lower powered Avia M-137AZ engine of 134 kW (180 HP). This was constructed for replacement of older and inconvenient Z-526 models, which were often converted to N (normal) category and used as glider tugs at many aero clubs. The Z-50M has limit maneuvering load factors of +7 and -5,5. Only eight Z-50M aircraft were built.

In April 1990 a Z-50LS received modified wings and was evaluated to determine if maneuverability was improved. The plane was designated Z-50LE (Experimental). This type remained only as a prototype.

The last version of Zlin 50 is the Z-50LX, which first flew in 1991, piloted by Zlin's chief pilot, Vladmir Peroutka. This version received additional fuel tanks in the wings and a robust "smoke system" for airshow routines; it was produced principally at the urging of show pilot Victor Norman. From 1992 to 1995 seven Z-50LX were built, and four of them are also used by the Red Bull Flying Bulls Aerobatics Team.

Z-50LS are still in use. Polish Aerobatic Team Zelazni uses 3 of them.

pecifications (Z-50)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=

crew=1
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 6.62 m
length alt=21.7 ft
span main=28.1 ft
span alt=8.58 m
height main=
height alt=
area main= 15.5 m²
area alt= 166.8 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 510 kg
empty weight alt= 1,124 lb
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 650 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 1,433 lb
more general=

engine (prop)=Lycoming AEIO-540-D4B5 six-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine
type of prop=
number of props=1
power main= 194 kW
power alt= 260 PS
power original=

max speed main= 293 km/h
max speed alt= 158 kt
cruise speed main= 240 km/h
cruise speed alt= 130 kt
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 250 km
range alt= 135 nm
ceiling main= 8,000 m
ceiling alt= 26,250 ft
climb rate main= 15 m/s
climb rate alt= 295 fpm
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=

avionics=

References

External links

* [http://www.moravan.cz/ Moravan Aeroplanes, Inc., The Czech Republic - manufacturer]
* [http://www.aerobaticsaircraft.com/zlin50/ Zlin Z-50 Homepage - fan pages]