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The Zlin Z-37 Cmelak (Bumble Bee) agricultural aircraft was designed as the successor of the LET L-60S Brigadyr.
Flown for the first time on 30 June 1963, series production started during the spring of 1964. The power plant
of the Zlin Z-37 was a 310 hp Avia M462 RF nine-cylinder radial air-cooled engine. However the Z37 was primarily
designed as a cropduster, it was also used as a transport aircraft and for aerial photography; search and
rescue; fire fighting and glider towing. The model was developed over the years and the 365 hp M601Z Turbine
powered version Z-137T Agro Turbo was flown first in September 1981.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for
the Zlin Z-37 Cmelak is Z37. |
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On 5 June 2015, S.P.P. Z-37A Cmelak D-ESOT was seen at the Anklamer
Flugplatz in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany. The 1975-built Z-37A
Cmelak s/n 08-11 was registered DM-SOT with Interflug, Betrieb Agrarflug.
In 1981/1982, the DM-prefix was replaced by the DDR-prefix. Over the
years, Interflug, Betrieb Agrarflug operated ninety five Z-37 and one
hundred thirty-three Z-37A Cmelaks as agricultural aircraft and six
two-seat Z-37-2 and nine two-seat Z37A-2 as training aircraft. On 1
October 1990, after the breakup of Interflug the DDR-SOP joined the
Flugservice Berlin fleet. As of 3 October 1990, the East German
DDR-prefix was no longer valid, all active DDR- registered aircraft had
to be re-registered. It is not yet known when Z-37A Cmelak DDR-SOP was
re-registered D-ESOP and if and where it was stored. When seen at
Flugplatz Anklam it had flown 8.543 hrs and made 26.073 landings. The
aircraft is owned by FSB (Flugservice Berlin) and part of the static display of the Otto Lilienthal Museum (Aeronauticon)
at Flugplatz Anklam (EDCA). |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
