SAI KZ III

The Skandinavisk Aero Industri (SAI) KZ III was the third model produced by Denmark’s pioneering aircraft builder in the early 1930s. First flown in March 1935, the KZ III stemmed from the successful KZ II trainer and was intended as a light utility and sport aircraft for both private owners and aero clubs. Its construction combined a welded steel tube fuselage with fabric covering and wooden, two‑spar wings of spruce and plywood, a typical mixed‑material approach of the era. Powered by a 70 hp (52 kW) Walter Minor four‑cylinder engine, the high‑wing monoplane offered a modest 150 km/h (93 mph) cruise speed, a range of roughly 600 km and excellent short‑field handling thanks to its generous wing area and fixed, split‑type landing gear. Only a handful of KZ IIIs were built—records indicate fewer than ten—but the type played a key role in establishing Denmark’s domestic production capability and in training a generation of pilots before World II. Its straightforward design, low operating costs, and reliable performance made the KZ III a beloved workhorse in Scandinavian civil aviation and a stepping stone toward more advanced SAI designs in the late 1930s. The aircraft remains a cherished example of interwar Scandinavian engineering, displayed in several museum collections today.