Utva Aviation Industry
UTVA-65 Privrednik
The UTVA‑65 Privrednik is a light, single‑engine trainer and utility aircraft produced by the Serbian manufacturer Utva Aviation Industry (Utva) from the early 1960s until the late 1980s. Designed to replace the aging Zlin and Piper trainers in Yugoslav military and civil schools, its first flight took place on 19 September 1962 and serial production began the following year at Utva’s factory in Pančevo. The high‑wing monoplane features an all‑metal stressed‑skin construction, fixed tricycle landing gear, and a 260 hp Lycoming IO‑540‑D4A5 engine that delivers reliable performance at low operating costs. With a maximum take‑off weight of 1 180 kg, a cruising speed of 210 km/h and a range of 1 000 km, the Privrednik can accommodate two crew members in tandem under a large, bubble canopy, offering excellent visibility for instruction and aerial observation. Its straightforward systems and rugged airframe made it popular not only with the Yugoslav Air Force, but also with flying clubs and agricultural operators throughout Eastern Europe. The aircraft’s longevity, ease of maintenance, and versatility cement its place as a notable example of Cold‑War era trainer design, influencing subsequent regional light‑aircraft developments.
