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.^[4]

The Z-43 first flew on 10 December 1968,^[4] with production starting in 1972. It proved less popular than its two-seat contemporary, and production ended in 1977 after 80 aircraft were built.^[5]

The Z-143 is a version introduced in 1992, powered by a six-cylinder Lycoming O-540 engine,^[6] in parallel to the Z-42 being re-engined with a Lycoming to become the Z-242.

Zlín Z-43

Base model

Zlín Z-43L

Experimental model with Lycoming AE10540 D4B5 engine. Has noticeable short engine cowling. Only one was built (C/N: 0084, reg: OK-LOW, later OM-LOW) in 1990. It was converted back to stock Z 43 after 307 flight hours in 1998.^[7]

Zlín Z-43M

Experimental model. Only one was built

Zlín Z-143

Improved model

Aeronautical Manufacturing Enterprise Safir-43

An Algerian licence-built copy of the Zlín Z-43

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976-77 ^[10]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 7.75 m (25 ft 5 in)
• Wingspan: 9.76 m (32 ft 0 in)
• Height: 2.91 m (9 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 14.50 m² (156.1 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 730 kg (1,609 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,350 kg (2,976 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 130 L (34 US gal; 29 imp gal) normal, provision for additional 110 L (29 US gal; 24 imp gal) tanks in wingtips
• Powerplant: 1 × Avia M 337 A inverted six-cylinder air-cooled inline engine, 160 kW (210 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 235 km/h (146 mph, 127 kn) at sea level
• Cruise speed: 210 km/h (130 mph, 110 kn)
• Stall speed: 103 km/h (64 mph, 56 kn) (flaps down)
• Never exceed speed: 273 km/h (170 mph, 147 kn)
• Range: 610 km (380 mi, 330 nmi) (standard fuel), 1,150 km (710 mi; 620 nmi) (with wingtip tanks)
• Service ceiling: 3,800 m (12,500 ft)
• Rate of climb: 3.5 m/s (690 ft/min)
• Takeoff distance to 15 m (50 ft): 700 m (2,300 ft)
• Landing distance to 15 m (50 ft): 590 m (1,940 ft)

Related development

• Zlín Z 42