Aero L-39

[Clave]

The Aero L-39 Albatros trainer designed in the Czech Republic, entered service in 1971 and production continued until 1999. It was replaced in the Czech Air Force by the L-59 Super Albatros.

More than 30 air forces used or still use the L-39 along with many civilian owners and aerobatic teams round the world. There are around 2,800 L-39s still in use today.

There are two main versions: The L-39C which is unarmed but had 2 x pylons for tanks or practice weapons, and the L-39Z with 4 x pylons and a twin-barrel 23mm cannon.

This example is an L-39C of the Abkhazian Air Force circa 2009.

This example is an L-39C of the Afghan Air Force circa 2007.

This example is an L-39C of the Algerian Air Force circa 2002.

This example is an L-39C of the Armenian Air Force circa 1995.

This example is an L-39C of the Azerbaijan Air Force circa 2006.

This example is an L-39ZA of the Bangladesh Air Force circa 1999.

This example is an L-39C of the Belarus Air Force circa 2009.

This example is an L-39ZA of the Bulgarian Air Force circa 1995.

This example is an L-39C of the Cambodian Air Force circa 2000.

This example is an L-39C of the Chechen Air Force circa 1994.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

One of my babies!!! You rock!!!!

 

[Thorlifter]

Have you ever been told you do great work?

 

[Gnomey]

Cool stuff Clave!

 

[imalko]

Nice work Clave.
Though at the time when L-39 was designed and for the most of the duration of production the country was still Czechoslovakia. Excellent design as it was, the choice to make it standard trainer of the Warszaw Pact countries was well justified.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

I've worked extensively on L-39s ad they are almost bullet proof. A very well thought out design that is simple to operate and maintain. The only thing I don't like about them is they are tall when compared to an L-29 or T-33 you you're always climbing on taller ladders to get to the top of the fuselage or tail. The aircraft is started with an small APU that inturn starts the engine. One you have an engine start the APU automatically shuts down.

 

[Wayne Little]

Nice!!

 

[Clave]

This example is an L-39C of the Cuban Air Force circa 2000.

This example is an L-39C of the Czech Republic Air Force circa 2010.

This example is an L-39ZA of the Czech Republic Air Force circa 1995.

This example is an L-39C of the Estonian Air Force circa 2007.

This example is an L-39C of the Ethiopian Air Force circa 1992.

This example is an L-39ZO of the GDR Air Force circa 1990.

This example is an L-39C of the Georgian Air Force circa 1995.

This example is an L-39C of the Ghanaian Air Force circa 1998.

 

[Clave]

This example is an L-39ZO of the Hungarian Air Force circa 2001.

This example is an L-39ZO of the Iraqi Air Force circa 1987.

This example is an L-39C of the Kazakh Air Force circa 2010.

This example is an L-39ZO of the Libyan Air Force circa 2009.

This example is an L-39ZO of the Lithuanian Air Force circa 2004.

This example is an L-39ZO of the Lithuanian Air Force circa 2009.

This example is an L-39ZA of the Nigerian Air Force circa 2010.

This example is an L-39ZA of the Romanian Air Force circa 1990.

This example is an L-39C of the Russian Air Force circa 2007.

 

[Clave]

This example is an L-39ZA of the Slovakian Air Force circa 2005.

This example is an L-39ZO of the Syrian Air Force circa 1980.

This example is an L-39ZO of the Royal Thai Air Force circa 2007.

This example is an L-39C of the Ukraine Air Force circa 1996.

This example is an L-39C of the Uzbekistan Air Force circa 2005.

This example is an L-39C of the Vietnamese Air Force circa 1998.

 

[Wurger]

What a great set of profiles. Well done Clave.

 

[ccheese]

Nice work, Clave...

Charles

 

[Gnomey]

Good stuff Clave!