S5-DEK

S5-DEK is a Zlin Aviation Z 42, a single-engine piston aircraft. SkyMeter has tracked 132 flights totalling 48 hours of airtime via ADS-B across 10 callsigns. The most frequent segment is LJCE to LJCE. Service window in our records spans 100 days. The Zlin Aviation Z 42 has a maximum takeoff weight of 2,094 lb, light wake category.

About the Zlin Aviation Z 42

The Zlin Z 42 is a Czech-built two-seat training aircraft that emerged from a storied lineage of aerobatic and training designs dating back to the 1940s. Manufactured by Zlin Aviation (formerly Moravan), the Z 42 first flew in 1967 as a successor to the earlier Z 26 series, offering flight schools a rugged, forgiving platform with excellent handling characteristics and low operating costs. Powered by a 180-horsepower Lycoming O-235 engine, the Z 42 features a distinctive all-metal construction with a low wing configuration and side-by-side seating, making it ideal for ab-initio training and basic aerobatic instruction.

The type gained particular popularity in European flight training organizations during the 1970s and 1980s, prized for its docile stall behavior, responsive controls, and ability to withstand the rigors of student operations. Its strong landing gear and simple systems made it well-suited to grass strips and unimproved fields, while the spacious cockpit provided good visibility for both instructor and student. The Z 42 can cruise at approximately 115 knots with a range of around 400 nautical miles, modest figures that reflect its primary mission as a local training workhorse rather than a cross-country tourer.

While production numbers never rivaled mass-market trainers like the Cessna 152 or Piper Cherokee, the Z 42 carved out a loyal niche among operators seeking European-built alternatives with proven durability. Many examples remain active in flight schools across Canada and Europe decades after manufacture, testament to the type's straightforward maintenance and long service life. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.