Design work on a purpose-designed agricultural aircraft started in Czechoslovakia in 1961, with a cooperation of two manufacturers: Let Kunovice and Moravan (Zlin brand).

It was a cantilever low-wing monoplane of tubular metal construction, the wings and stabilizers covered with duralumin and the fuselage and control surfaces made of fabric.

It had a fixed undercarriage with a fully castering tailwheel, but locked to the rudders for ground handling.

This offered the pilot a good view, but was potentially dangerous in case of an emergency landing.

There is also a freight version with open space instead of hopper and spray equipment and a -3 variant with three passenger seats facing rearwards.

[5] The main user of Z-37s was Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia) along with East Germany and other Eastern Bloc countries.