This ZLIN Z50LS Cockpit and Flying
guide has been produced to make
getting acquainted with your new ZLIN,
both simpler and more fun. To this end, this
is not an “official” pilot’s manual and should
not be considered such.
The ZLIN Z50 is a Czech-designed
and built high-performance aerobatic aero-
plane. It first saw the light of day in early
1976 and for those days was a remarkably
advanced piece of engineering. All-alumin-
ium with a single span Titanium spring for
landing gear, the design was light and ex-
tremely 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, develop-
ing 300hp, driving a three-blade Hoffmann
constant-speed prop, the little Zlin is fast and
extremely agile yet is capable of extraordi-
nary things at very slow speeds.
In its heydays, the ZlinZ50 took out
3 World championships and 4 Europe-
an 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.
Today, the ZlinZ50LS is still flown by
the world’s finest aerobatic pilots and club
pilots alike. One such notable pilot Ernest
“Tuckie” Artigas (Spanish Aerobatic Cham-
pion 2013) has been immensely helpful in
the development of this simulation. His
aircraft is included in the livery set.
Power Plant:
One Lycoming
AEIO-540-L185D 300hp
six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-
cooled engine driving 3-blade variable
pitch propeller.
Performance:
Maximum speed: 164 kts
Cruising speed: 145 kts
Landing speed: 59 kts
Stall speed (normal): 54.5 kts
Rate of climb: 2,400 fpm
Service ceiling: 20,000ft (6,000 m)
Cruising range: 350 n/miles (640km)
(with wingtip tanks)
Safe Takeoff run: 495ft (150m)
984ft
(300m)to
50ft
Safe Landing run: 1,738ft. (530m) from
50 ft.
Safe Landing roll: 984ft. (300m)
Accommodation:
Enclosed seating for 1 Pilot
G-limits: +8 , -6
ZLIN Z50 LS
LEADING PARTICULARS
(details may change depending on year
and modifications. Many examples
were modified to bring them up to a
different standard.)
Wings:
Wing span: 28.15ft. (8.58m)
Wing area: 134.55ft² (12.5m²)
Fuselage:
Length: 21.7 ft.(6.62m).
Height: 6.5 ft.(1.985m)
Airfoil:
Root: NACA 0018
Tip: NACA 0012
Fuel capacity
15.85 U.S. gallons (60 liters) in one
central tank
26.4 U.S. gallons (100 litres) in two
wing-tip tanks - for ferry use ONLY
