This is a rare 1984 aircraft sticker or decal made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Moravan Aviation and features an aircraft circling the number 50. The sticker is 9cm wide by 6.5cm high.
Historical Background
Moravan in Otrokovice was a Czechoslovak aircraft company founded in 1934 and since then has built over 5,600 aircraft. It is best known for its training and acrobatic planes. The company was founded by the Bata family who still operate a worldwide chain of shoe stores called Bata. Prior to WWII Moravan had superior airframe designs to similar planes in the luftwaffe. The Zlin XII famously outperformed the Junkers Ju-86 in a performance and endurance show shortly before the outbreak of war.
When Germany invaded Czechoslovakia in 1938 the latest aircraft, the Zlin XIII was secretly sent to Yugoslavia to avoid it falling into German hands, but the plot was discovered, the plane was captured and the German occupying forces produced over 700 planes based on the XIII design bearing German luftwaffe markings.
After the fall of socialism in 1989 this light aircraft manufacturer saw government funding reduced to zero overnight and couldn't compete in the open market. Moravan Zlin have been declared bankrupt, but have been bought out by another company, but still have an uncertain future.
The Zlín Z 42 is a Czech two seat light aircraft. The most popular type made by Moravan.
You can download an English history of Moravan Aircraft Industries here, it is a 1.4MB pdf file, but well worth the time to read !
