We are pleased to announce that the collection of the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków has been enriched with another valuable exhibit: a Zlin Z-42M aircraft with serial number 0119 and registration marks SP-GHD, manufactured in 1977.
This exceptional two-seat low-wing monoplane, developed at the Moravan Otrokovice factory in the Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia), served for many years at the Mielec Aeroclub, and previously at the “Agrolot” centre of the Agricultural and Technical Academy in Olsztyn.
Thanks to their solid construction and reliability, Zlin Z-42M aircraft were among the most popular aircraft used in Polish aeroclubs for pilot training at basic and intermediate levels, as well as for basic aerobatic instruction.
The first prototype made its maiden flight on 17 October 1967. Serial production soon began, and the machine quickly gained popularity in aeroclubs across many countries, including Poland.
During the development of the design, several variants were created:
The Zlin Z-42M is distinguished by:
Approximately 150 Zlin Z-42 aircraft were used in Poland, which represented 20% of total world production. The acquired example SP-GHD enriches the existing collection of aeroclub aircraft and Zlin-brand machines displayed at the Polish Aviation Museum. The collection previously included the Zlin Z-26 and Z-50, making the exposition a complete overview of the history of this Czechoslovak brand’s use in Poland.
The aircraft can be viewed from 28 January in the exhibition hall of the Museum’s Main Building. We encourage you to visit and take a closer look at this remarkable testament to the history of Polish training aviation!
