Z-326, No. 610, Kladno Aero Club, Kladno Airfield, Czechoslovakia, 1975

This aircraft served as C-305 in the military aeroclub of Czechoslovak People’s Army for basic training of student pilots. During this service an unspecified collision (on the ground) with other aircraft occurred according to some sources, resulting in fuselage damage. The aircraft was repaired but lost its aerobatic category classification and was overhanded to the civilian Kladno Aero Club at the end of September 1972. Prior to conversion to the tug version, it was used for training and navigation flights. The aircraft retained the overall silver livery as it was used in army, but the nose was adorned with blue color, while wingtips and top of the vertical stabilizer were painted red. More to it, the cartoon of the smiling crab was painted on the port side of the nose with unusually stylized Trener Master inscription above it. The painting was based on a cartoon by Pavel Kantorek, Czechoslovak professor of physical science at Ryerson University, Toronto. He was author of many humorous cartoons with animals starring in the main role.    

Z-326MF, No. 918, Repülőiskola Nyíregyháza, Nyíregyháza Airport, Hungaria, 2020

Hungaria is one of the countries, where the Trenér family is very popular. There were 12 of Z-326 Trenér Masters delivered directly from the factory in 1961 and 1962, but this one is not one of them. This aircraft was sold to Gabon (Air service Libreville) in December 1966 with registration mark TR-LMX and later was delivered to France, where it was flying under registration F-BSTA as Z-326. The conversion to MF version was done in Hungary and the aircraft sported non-standard right engine cover – the one used on Z-326 powered by Walter Minor 6-III engine, i.e., with four wide louvres. This was later changed for the standard cover for the M-137 engine. Today, the University of Nyíregyháza is the owner of the aircraft and uses it along other ones for pilot training of its students. 

C-305, No. 604, Czechoslovak People’s Army, Czechoslovakia, 1965

Czechoslovak People’s Army obtained ten Z-326 in military version C-305. These aircraft varied only slightly from the civilian ones, as they were equipped with small indication lights on the undercarriage leg covers and with the signal rockets dispenser under the belly with corresponding control panel in the cockpit. These served for basic pilot training in Military Aero Clubs, where young beginners were starting their career of military pilots prior to enlisting. Some aircraft were flying in simple silver livery, other obtained attractive three-tone coloring with metallic light blue-green as a basic one. This aircraft was handed over to civilian Aero Clubs representative (Svazarm organization) on May 8, 1968 and was assigned to Vrchlabí Aero Club consequently. Later it was transferred to Olomouc Aero Club and finally to nearby Prostějov Aero Club, where it is flying with OK-OTA registration today.

Z-326M, No. 609, private owners, Slaný Airfield, 2022

This is one of the still flying aircraft produced as C-305 for the Czechoslovak People’s Army. It was handed over to the civilian Svazarm organization on May 26, 1972 and was given the OK-OTD registration. It served in the Aero Clubs of Točná, Kladno and briefly also Jičín, where it reached its time between overhauls and was grounded. During the process of the assets allocation of the then Aero Club of the Czecho-Slovak Federation Republic, this aircraft was assigned to the Aero Club Polička. There it underwent overhaul, making it airworthy again, and also the conversion to the Z-326M version. The Aero Club than used it primarily for towing of sailplanes. In 2006, however, it was sold to a private owner who operated it at the Líně airport. Subsequently, it was sold to a pair of private owners who keep flying this Trenér Master from Slaný airport.

Z-326, No. 902, private owner, Großenhain, Germany, 2022

In 1963 the management of the Moravan Otrokovice company officially ended the production of the Z 26 series aircraft. So, this Z-326 serial number 902 was manufactured as the “last” of all Trenérs and was factory stored until 1965. However, the customer demand was strong, so after two years, serial production was running again. In June 1965, the No. 902 aircraft left Czechoslovakia for France with registration F-BMQX. One of its first bases was Villefranche Airport. After completing its flight school career, it was stored and later sold to Switzerland. Since 1992 it was in the possession of Groupement Avion Historique in Lausanne. At that time, but also shortly after being sold to Germany, it bore the registration HB-TCB. In this form, it also briefly appeared during maintenance in the Czech Republic. It was registered as D-ERIO after 2015 and remains privately held.

Z-326, No. 894, Escadrille Orion, Marmande Virazeil, France 2013

After manufactured in 1963, this Z-326 was factory stored until June 25, 1965, when it was handed over to a French customer. It served in the flying school in Challes and later was in the inventory of  Association Pour La Sauvegarde Des Avions Anciens. It is a part of another group of enthusiasts today, Escadrille Orion, based at the Marmande Virazeil airfield.