Zlin Z-50 LS

The ZLIN Z50 is a Czech-designed and built high-performance aerobatic aero­plane. It first saw the light of day in early 1976 and for those days was a remarkably advanced piece of engineering. All-alumin­ium with a single span Titanium spring for landing gear, the design was light and ex­tremely strong. Massively thick wingroots, enormous ailerons with servo-assist and an enormous fin and rudder meant an aircraft capable of withstanding huge forces when subjected to violent manouevres. The only concession to tradition is the fabric covered elevator.

Powered by Lycoming’s brilliant AEIO-540-L185D series engine, develop­ing 300hp, driving a three-blade Hoffmann constant-speed prop, the little Zlin is fast and extremely agile yet is capable of extraordi­nary things at very slow speeds.

In its hay-days, the ZlinZ50 took out 3 World championships and 4 Europe­an championships together with scores of club-level competitions. It truly ruled the skies until the advent of a new generation of super-aerobatic aircraft arrived in the shape of the Sukhoi 26 and the Extra 300.