ZlÃn Z 43
The Zlin Z- 43 is a multi-purpose aircraft of the Czechoslovak manufacturer Zlínská Letecká Akciová Společnost, short Zlín. Tasks are courier and connection services, pilot training, aerobatics and glider towing.
General
The Z -43 is an evolution of the travel plane Z- 42nd Both aircraft have about 80% of the same components. Augenscheinlichstes differentiator are present in the Z -43 additional two rear seats, so the body is about 70 cm longer than that of Z -42. Furthermore, the Z- 43 has a reinforced chassis, dual control and a stronger M- 337A engine.
The first of two prototypes with the identifier OK XKN launched on 10 November (16 December? ) In 1968 for its first flight. The Z -43 replaced in a quantity of 20 to the beginning of the 1970s in the air forces of the GDR, the Yak- 18A and has been used since 1974 and at the Society for Sport and Technology. More Users countries next Czechoslovakia (77 ) Poland (1 ), Hungary ( 6), Algeria ( 29) and the Federal Republic of Germany (1). Successor model is the Z - 143rd A total of 134 units were produced.
A 1974 Air Ambulance retrofitted prototype did not reach the series production.
Military use
The former Tamil rebel army Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka maintained since 2005 the Air Force Air Tiger, which consisted depending on data from one to five Z -43. The most serious air attacks include the attack on Bandaranaike International Airport in March 2007, the port of Trincomalee in April 2008 and the kamikaze run on the government quarter in Colombo in February 2009. Further details see civil war in Sri Lanka.