A Russian L-39 Albatross landing. The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance, jet trainer aircraft developed in Czechoslovakia during the 1960s to replace the L-29 Delfin. It was later updated to the L-59, and is still produced in an evolved state as the L-159. More than 2,800 L-39s are in service with over 30 air forces worldwide, filling the roles of basic and advanced pilot training, making it the most widely-used jet trainer in the world.
Development
The L-39 first flew on November 4, Czechoslovakia, and the rest of the Warsaw Pact nations from 1971 onward. The L-59, a minor update to the design, remained in production until 1999.
Operational history While newer versions are now replacing older L-39s in service, thousands remain in active service as trainers, and many are finding new homes with private owners all over the world. This is particularly evident in the United States, where their $200,000-$300,000 price puts them in range of moderately wealthy pilots looking for a fast, agile jet, and their popularity has led to a purely L-39 'Jet Unlimited' class at the Reno Air Races.
Variants - L-39C - standard production version
- L-39V - single-seat target tug
- L-39ZO - light attack variant
- L-39ZA - L-39ZO with improved avionics
- L-39Z/ART - Thai version with Elbit avionics
- L-139 - updated L-39C with Western avionics and Garrett TFE731 engine. First flown 1993
Users - Afghani Air Force (26x L-39C)
- Bangladesh Air Force (8x L-39ZA)
- Bulgarian Air Force (36x L-39ZA)
- Cuban Air Force (30x L-39C)
- Czechoslovakian Air Force (33x L-39C, 30x L-39ZA, 8x L-39V, 5x L-39MS)
- East German Air Force (52x L-39ZO)
- Ethiopian Air Force (24x L-39C)
- Iraqi Air Force (22x L-39C, 59x L-39ZO)
- Libyan Air Force (181x L-39ZO)
- Nigerian Air Force (24x L-39ZA)
- Romanian air Force (32x L-39ZA)
- Soviet Air Force (2,080x L-39C)
- Syrian Air Force (55x L-39ZO, 44x L-39ZA)
- Thai Air Force (40x L-39ZA/ART)
- Vietnamese Air Force (24x L-39C)
Specifications (L-39C)
General Characteristics - Crew: two, student and instructor
- Length: 12.13 m (39 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 9.46 m (31 ft 0 in)
- Height: 4.77 m (15 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 18.8 m² (202 ft²)
- Empty: 3,200 kg (7,056 lb)
- Loaded: kg ( lb)
- Maximum takeoff: 4,535 kg (10,000 lb)
- Powerplant: 1x Progress AI-25TL, 16.9 kN (3,792 lb) thrust
Performance - Maximum speed: 750 km/h (409 mph)
- Range: 1,350 km (563 miles)
- Service ceiling: 11,000 m (37,720 ft)
- Rate of climb: 1,260 m/min (2,755 ft/min)
- Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
- Thrust-to-weight:
Armament - up to 1,290 kg (2,838 lb) of stores on four hardpoints, including AAMs (K-13), 7.62 machine-gun pods, free-fall bombs, cluster bombs, rocket launchers, drop tanks.
External links Aero Vodochody Product Page (http://www.aero.cz/main.php?pageid=31)
Related content Related development: Aero L-59 Albatros
Comparable Aircraft: Aermacchi MB-339 - BAe Hawk - CASA 101 - Dassault Dornier Alpha Jet
Designation sequence: L-29 - L-39 - L-59
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