History:
The Czechoslovakian L-39 was built as the successor to their earlier trainer, the L-29 Delfin. Design work began in 1966, and
the first prototype made its initial flight on 4 November 1968. The idea of the design was to marry an efficient, powerful
turbofan engine to a sleek, streamlined fuselage, resulting in a strong, economical performer which would become the next
standard jet trainer for the Warsaw Pact. Full-scale production was delayed until late 1972 due to apparent problems with the
design of the air intakes, but these difficulties were overcome and the type went on to be a great success with the Soviet,
Czech and East German air forces, among others.
Three main variants were produced. The L-39C was built as a pure trainer and was used by numerous air forces throughout
Eastern Europe beginning in 1974 and continuing through today. The armed weapons-trainer variant is called the L-39ZA, and
a close-support and ground-attack version is called the L-39ZO. In addition to those mentioned above, the L-39 has been
exported to numerous countries, including Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Iraq, Libya, Estonia, and Kyrghyzstan. A
modernized derivative of the Albatros, the L-59, is still being built in the Czech Republic. Another modernized, but very different
version, the L-39MS, actually has much more in common with the L-59 than the L-39, despite its designation.
As of this writing, the L-39 is the most popular jet warbird in the world, with over 240 believed to be actively flying in the USA
alone.
Nicknames:
"L-ka" (Russian nickname)
Specifications:
Engine: One 3,792-lb thrust Walter Titan turbofan (Ivchenko AI-25-TL built under Czech license by Motorlet).
Weight: Empty 7,340 lbs., Max Takeoff 11,618 lbs. (L-39ZO with four rocket pods)
Wing Span: 31ft. 0.5in.
Length: 40ft. 5in.
Height: 15ft. 5.5in.
Performance:
Maximum Speed at 19,600 ft: 485 mph (Trainer version, clean)
Maximum Speed at Sea Level: 435 mph
Ceiling: 37,730 ft. (Trainer, clean)
Range: 528 miles with internal fuel; 995 miles with external tanks.
Armament (L-39ZO): Up to 2,425 pounds of weapons on four underwing hardpoints, including bombs, 57- or 130-mm rocket
pods, gun pods, a five-camera reconnaissance pod, or two fuel drop-tanks. Centerline point carried a pod-mounted 23-mm
twin-barrel GSh-23 cannon with 180 rounds.
Number Built: 2800+
Number Still Airworthy:
Unknown number in military service. At least 240 flying in private ownership.
List of Aero L-39 operators
Afghan Air Force (26 x L-39C; 3 reported still in service)
Algeria
Azerbaijan Air Force
Bangladesh Air Force (8x L-39ZA)
Belarus
Bulgarian Air Force (36x L-39ZA)
Congo
Cuban Air Force (30x L-39C)
Czech Air Force (33x L-39C, 30x L-39ZA, 8x L-39V, 5x L-39MS)
East German Air Force (52x L-39ZO)
Egypt
Ethiopian Air Force (24x L-39C)
Hungarian Air Force
Iraqi Air Force (22x L-39C, 59x L-39ZO)
Libyan Air Force (181x L-39ZO)
Lithuanian Air Force (12x L-39ZA)
Nicaragua
Nigerian Air Force (24x L-39ZA)
North Korea
Romanian Air Force (32x L-39ZA)
Soviet Air Force/Russian Air Force (2,080x L-39C)
Slovakia
Syrian Air Force (55x L-39ZO, 44x L-39ZA)
Thai Air Force (40x L-39ZA/ART)
Uganda
Ukraine
Vietnamese Air Force (24x L-39C)
Yemen
Lithuanian Air Force (4x L-39C, 2x L-39ZA)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Aero_L-39_operators"
The Czechoslovakian L-39 was built as the successor to their earlier trainer, the L-29 Delfin. Design work began in 1966, and
the first prototype made its initial flight on 4 November 1968. The idea of the design was to marry an efficient, powerful
turbofan engine to a sleek, streamlined fuselage, resulting in a strong, economical performer which would become the next
standard jet trainer for the Warsaw Pact. Full-scale production was delayed until late 1972 due to apparent problems with the
design of the air intakes, but these difficulties were overcome and the type went on to be a great success with the Soviet,
Czech and East German air forces, among others.
Three main variants were produced. The L-39C was built as a pure trainer and was used by numerous air forces throughout
Eastern Europe beginning in 1974 and continuing through today. The armed weapons-trainer variant is called the L-39ZA, and
a close-support and ground-attack version is called the L-39ZO. In addition to those mentioned above, the L-39 has been
exported to numerous countries, including Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Iraq, Libya, Estonia, and Kyrghyzstan. A
modernized derivative of the Albatros, the L-59, is still being built in the Czech Republic. Another modernized, but very different
version, the L-39MS, actually has much more in common with the L-59 than the L-39, despite its designation.
As of this writing, the L-39 is the most popular jet warbird in the world, with over 240 believed to be actively flying in the USA
alone.
Nicknames:
"L-ka" (Russian nickname)
Specifications:
Engine: One 3,792-lb thrust Walter Titan turbofan (Ivchenko AI-25-TL built under Czech license by Motorlet).
Weight: Empty 7,340 lbs., Max Takeoff 11,618 lbs. (L-39ZO with four rocket pods)
Wing Span: 31ft. 0.5in.
Length: 40ft. 5in.
Height: 15ft. 5.5in.
Performance:
Maximum Speed at 19,600 ft: 485 mph (Trainer version, clean)
Maximum Speed at Sea Level: 435 mph
Ceiling: 37,730 ft. (Trainer, clean)
Range: 528 miles with internal fuel; 995 miles with external tanks.
Armament (L-39ZO): Up to 2,425 pounds of weapons on four underwing hardpoints, including bombs, 57- or 130-mm rocket
pods, gun pods, a five-camera reconnaissance pod, or two fuel drop-tanks. Centerline point carried a pod-mounted 23-mm
twin-barrel GSh-23 cannon with 180 rounds.
Number Built: 2800+
Number Still Airworthy:
Unknown number in military service. At least 240 flying in private ownership.
List of Aero L-39 operators
Afghan Air Force (26 x L-39C; 3 reported still in service)
Algeria
Azerbaijan Air Force
Bangladesh Air Force (8x L-39ZA)
Belarus
Bulgarian Air Force (36x L-39ZA)
Congo
Cuban Air Force (30x L-39C)
Czech Air Force (33x L-39C, 30x L-39ZA, 8x L-39V, 5x L-39MS)
East German Air Force (52x L-39ZO)
Egypt
Ethiopian Air Force (24x L-39C)
Hungarian Air Force
Iraqi Air Force (22x L-39C, 59x L-39ZO)
Libyan Air Force (181x L-39ZO)
Lithuanian Air Force (12x L-39ZA)
Nicaragua
Nigerian Air Force (24x L-39ZA)
North Korea
Romanian Air Force (32x L-39ZA)
Soviet Air Force/Russian Air Force (2,080x L-39C)
Slovakia
Syrian Air Force (55x L-39ZO, 44x L-39ZA)
Thai Air Force (40x L-39ZA/ART)
Uganda
Ukraine
Vietnamese Air Force (24x L-39C)
Yemen
Lithuanian Air Force (4x L-39C, 2x L-39ZA)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Aero_L-39_operators"
ALBATROS, L-39 Jet
