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7 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. LET Z-37A Cmelak Private OK-AIX, LKCR Chrudim, Czech Republic PP1186470971: Peter Bakema· GFDL 1.2
- 2. Let Z37A LKCV: Petr Kadlec· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 3. Z 37A Čmelák na leteckém dni v Chrudimi: Aeroklub Chrudim· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 4. Z-37AC3 Čmelák (3570083521): Jerry Gunner from Lincoln, UK· CC BY 2.0
- 5. Zlin Z-37 (8738940021): bomberpilot· CC BY-SA 2.0
- 6. Zlin Z-37 (8740036748): bomberpilot· CC BY-SA 2.0
- 7. Zlin Z-37 1991-07-06 Andre Gerwing Collection ID 017455: André Gerwing· CC BY-SA 4.0
what is it?
The Zlin Z-37 Čmelák (Czech: "Bumblebee"), also known as LET Z-37 Čmelák, is an agricultural aircraft which was manufactured in Czechoslovakia. It is powered by a Soviet-built Ivchenko reciprocating engine. The aircraft is used mainly as a cropduster.
How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · fixed tailwheel (taildragger) · 12.2 m wingspan
base stats
Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).
fun facts
- First flew 63 years ago, in 1963.
- Top speed is 1.6× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
- Wingspan of 12.2 m: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.
piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.
spec sheet
- first flight
- 1963-06-29
- introduced
- 1965
- status
- still flying
- number built
- 739
- role
- agricultural aircraft
- origin
- 🇨🇿 Czechoslovakia
- makers
- ZLIN AERO, LET Aircraft Industries
- engines
- 1× Avia M462RF
- length
- 8.6 m
- wingspan
- 12.2 m
- height
- 2.9 m
- max take-off weight
- 1,850 kg
- top speed
- 210 km/h
- cruise speed
- 170 km/h
- range
- —
- landing gear
- fixed conventional landing gear
Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q540629, Wikipedia: Zlin Z-37 Čmelák (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.