Zlinska Letecka Akciova Spolecnost was founded in 1935 and was a subsidiary of the Bata Shoe Company. After designing a small number of light aircraft before World War 11, the company began to manufacture versions of the Bucker Bu 181 Bestmann towards the end of the war. At the end of the war the company continued with the Bestmann, building a number of variants including the Z-181 (72 built), Z-281 (79 built) and Z-381 (314 built). The Z-26 Trener (162 built) was first flown in 1947 and won an order from the Czech Air Force as a primary trainer. This aircraft was the forerunner of a series of trainers and aerobatic aircraft which are still built today. The Z-26 was replaced on the production line in 1953 by the Z-126 Trener 2 which was a version with metal wings and rear decking, a new tail unit and tailwheel. It is thought that a few examples of the Zlin Z-126 remain airworthy.

D-EJEW             c/n 791              Czechoslovakia

2 seat light aircraft first flown in 1953