KITS 11/2021

Z-226B, OK-MPJ, No. 255, Aero Club Kladno, Czechoslovakia, 1970s

The towing specials, Z-226B nicknamed "Bohatyr" (meaning something as a strong hero) were a welcome help to Aero Clubs.

The aircraft of serial number 255 was registered in December 1958 and was operated by the Kladno Aero Club in the seventies.

The standard factory livery, which for the Z-226B version consisted of a basic silver colour with blue accessories, was complemented by a drawing of a "cheerful cow" by Josef Valenta, one of the Aero Club members. He went on to decorate several other

aircraft with his paintings, most recently the Z-526F OK-CRA in 1998. Today, the OK-MPJ has private

owners and after conversion to the Z-226MS standard, it is flying in silver livery with blue checkerboard

on the nose, tail surfaces and wing.

Z-226B, OK-MQL, No. 283, Aero Club Kralupy nad Vltavou, Czech Republic, 2010

This aircraft was manufactured as a Z-226B, it was operated as the Z-226B and still flies as the Z-226B… The aircraft of the serial

number 283 was registered on April 10, 1959, and is unique because it has not undergone any conversion to different version.

Incidentally, it is the last airworthy „Bohatýr“, as the Z-226B was nicknamed (meaning something as a strong hero). The OK-MQL

served for many years in the Aero Club Kralupy nad Vltavou and was operated at the Sazená airfield.

In 2015, it was bought by private Ikarus Gliding Club organisation and has its home at the airport

in Dvůr Králové.

30

eduard

INFO Eduard - November 2021