Pilots shopping for a backcountry aircraft are often asked to accept a familiar tradeoff: excellent short-field performance paired with a long, slow trip to reach the backcountry. The Zlin Norden was engineered to approach that mission differently.
126 mph Cruise. 30 mph Stall.
Those two numbers tell one of the most important stories behind the Zlin Norden.
With its high-lift devices retracted, the Norden’s modern aluminum wing is designed for efficient cross-country performance, delivering a listed cruise speed of 126 mph true at 5,000 feet density altitude.
When it’s time to slow down, pilot-controlled retractable slats extend the wing’s leading edge while large double-slotted flaps increase lift. With the flaps and slats fully deployed, the Norden lists a stall speed of just 30 mph.
Clean and fast for the journey. Configured for serious low-speed capability at the destination.
One Wing, Two Personalities
| 126 MPH True Cruise | 30 MPH Stall, Full Flaps + Slats | 1,800 FPM Rate of Climb |
With it’s retractable leading-edge slats and double-slotted flaps stowed, the modern aluminum wing is clean and efficient in cruise. When the runway gets short, the pilot can deploy the high-lift system to increase lift and support confident slow flight.
Which number surprises you more: 126 or 30?