PlaneFox tracks 2 Z 242L aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
A Zlin Aircraft (Moravan) Z 242L flies about 431 nm, roughly 798 km, which is about - in still air at typical cruise.
A Zlin Aircraft (Moravan) Z 242L costs about EUR 1,968 a month to run, or about EUR 209 for every flight hour when it is flown 150 hours a year.
The Zlin Aircraft (Moravan) Z 242L is a Czech, two-seat, low-wing aerobatic trainer produced by Moravan Otrokovice, later associated with the Zlin Aircraft name. The type first flew in 1990 and entered production in the early 1990s as the Lycoming-powered development of the Z 42 and Z 142 training family. It was designed for ab initio instruction, upset recovery, instrument training and competition-style aerobatic practice. For buyers, its significance is the combination of a rugged all-metal airframe, side-by-side instruction layout and a Western engine installation that simplified support outside the former Eastern Bloc.
The Zlin Aircraft (Moravan) Z 242L is powered by a Lycoming AEIO-360 series four-cylinder, fuel-injected aerobatic engine rated at 200 hp, driving a constant-speed propeller on most examples. Typical cruise speed is in the region of 115 to 125 knots, depending on power setting, propeller and aircraft condition. Published range is commonly around 400 nautical miles with reserves in normal touring use. Service ceiling is about 15,000 feet. Useful load varies by equipment fit and certification basis, so individual weight and balance records matter more than a brochure figure. The aircraft is certificated for aerobatic operation, subject to weight limits and approved maneuver restrictions.
The cabin seats two side by side under a large canopy, a layout valued for primary instruction because instructor and student share the same forward view and instrument scan. Controls are conventional, with dual sticks and good visibility for formation, circuit and aerobatic work. Most Z 242L aircraft were delivered with traditional analog flight instruments rather than integrated glass cockpits such as Garmin Perspective or Garmin G1000. Used examples often carry practical retrofit avionics: Garmin or BendixKing communication and navigation radios, Mode S transponders, intercoms, GPS units and, in some cases, electronic engine monitors or compact EFIS displays.
On the used market, the Zlin Aircraft (Moravan) Z 242L usually sits between basic touring trainers and newer composite aerobatic aircraft. Key inspection points include airframe fatigue history, aerobatic usage, logbook continuity, corrosion protection, landing gear condition, canopy and latch condition, propeller life, engine overhaul status and compliance with Zlin service bulletins. Buyers should distinguish it from the Z 142, which uses a different powerplant, and from later or more specialized Zlin aerobatic models. Valuable upgrades include modern radios, ADS-B where required, engine monitoring, refreshed interiors and documented propeller or engine work, while originality and complete aerobatic records are especially important for resale confidence.