What is Aero L-39 Albatros ?

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Even if its name might suggest it: the L-39 Albatros is not a seaplane at all, but a jet trainer built by the Czech manufacturer Aero. Quite in contrast this type of sea bird, which has extraordinary sailing but rather clumsy takeoff and landing skills, the Aero’s Albatrosses have great takeoff and landing capabilites: if necessary, the jets can even start from grass runways.

Further advantages of this training plane, which was developed as of 1968 and built until 1999, are its low maintenance costs and the excellent handling. The Albatros is one of the most used jet trainer worldwide, which is not only due to its numerous talents, but also because it was the standard trainer of the Warsaw Pact for a long time.

N39UA is outfitted with state of the art EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrument System) and AHARS (Attitude, Heading and Reference System) flight instrumentation with capabilities to withstand extreme flight attitudes.

L-39 is structurally rated for +8g and -4g that allows the students to make mistakes in recovery and learn from them.The L-39 is one of the first turbofan-powered trainers produced and is the most widely used jet trainer in the world.

There were approximately 3000 L-39s produced since 1969 by the Aero Vodochody aerospace manufacturer in Czechoslovakia and used in over 30 foreign countries.

There are approximately 265 L-39s registered in the US.The L-39C Turbo Fan Engine generates 3800 lbs of thrust.Maximum speed: 0.8 mach or 565 mph.

The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer developed in Czechoslovakia by Aero Vodochody. It was designed during the 1960s as a replacement for the Aero L-29 Delfín as a principal training aircraft.

The L-39 Albatros has the distinction of being the first of the second-generation jet trainers to be produced, as well as being the first trainer aircraft to be equipped with a turbofan powerplant. The type was exported to a wide range of countries as a military trainer.

The L-39 Albatros later served as the basis for the updated L-59 Super Albatros, as well as the L-139 (prototype L-39 with Garrett TFE731 engine). A further development of the design, designated as the L-159 ALCA, entered production in 1997.

To date, more than 2,800 L-39s have served with over 30 air forces around the world. The Albatros is the most widely used jet trainer in the world; in addition to performing basic and advanced pilot training, it has also flown combat missions in a light-attack role.

At the Farnborough Airshow in July 2014, Aero Vodochody announced the launch of the L-39NG, an upgraded and modernised version of the L-39. The design never received a NATO reporting name.

In 1964, Czechoslovak aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody embarked on a new design project to meet the specified requirements for a "C-39" (C for cvičný – trainer), setting up a design team under the leadership of Jan Vlček. This aircraft was to serve as a replacement for the Aero L-29 Delfín, an early jet-powered trainer, as a principal training aircraft

On 4 November 1969, the L-39 (under the designation "Prototype X-02" – the second airframe to be built) conducted its maiden flight, for which it was piloted by Rudolf Duchoň, the factory's test pilot.[6][7] Serial production of the initial model of the L-39, designated L-39C, commenced in 1971.

In 1972, the L-39 Albatros was formally recognized by the majority of the countries comprising the Warsaw Pact as their preferred primary trainer, after which point, sizable orders from military customers throughout the bloc proceeded, many of which were from the Soviet Air Forces. In 1974, the first L-39 trainer entered service with the Czechoslovak Air Force.

Several specialised variants of the base L-39 design were quickly introduced. In 1972, a purpose-built target tug variant, the L-39V, conducted its initial flight. In 1975, the first L-39ZO training/light combat model, which was equipped with four underwing hardpoints as well as a strengthened wing and modified landing gear, performed its first flight.

In 1977, the first L-39ZA light combat variant, which was fitted with a single Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 cannon mounted underneath the fuselage in addition to the four hardpoints and strengthening of the L-39ZO, made its maiden flight.

Built as the successor to the L-29, the L-39 first flew in 1968. After entering production in 1972, the L-39 had great success as a jet trainer and light attack aircraft throughout the world, at one point being used by nearly forty air forces. It is still flown by numerous militaries, including Russia, Ukraine, Thailand, the Czech Republic, and Egypt.

The L-39 was built in three primary variants: the C, ZA, and ZO. The C is a trainer with some weapons training capability and two hardpoints on the wings, while the ZO and ZA are light attack versions with four hardpoints. The ZA also has a 23mm gunpod mounted under the fuselage. The L-39 has a maximum speed of 490 knots or .8 mach, a +8/-4G load limit, and a final approach speed around 120 knots. It is easy to fly and comfortable due to a modern environmental control system.

According to aerospace publication Flight International, roughly 200 L-39s were being sold each year upon the jet trainer market during the late 1980s.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, in 1993, the total export orders gained for the L-39 represented 80 per cent of the value of all Czech military product export sales made for that year.

During the 1990s, shortly following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, Aero Vodochody decided to develop versions of the Albatros equipped with Western-sourced avionics, engines, and weapon systems.

Around the same time, Aero Vodochody formed an active partnership with Elbit Systems of Israel, under which a number of L-39s were delivered to Elbit to be equipped with modern electronics and onboard systems before being re-exported to end users such as the Royal Thai Air Force.

Sales of the L-39 declined during the 1990s. This downturn has been attributed to the loss of the captive Warsaw Pact trainer market, to which a substantial proportion of the total aircraft manufactured had been historically sold to; allegations about Czechoslovak banks being unable to finance the defense industry and inaction on the part of the Czechoslovak government; and concerns over the quality of manufacturing standards.

In 1996, production of the L-39 came to an end.[3] Since the end of production, Aero Vodochody has developed several improved variants of the L-39 to take its place, and has continued extensive support and overhaul operations for existing L-39 customers.