AIRCRAFT BRIEF
The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance Czechoslovak jet trainer designed by Jan Vlcek at Aero Vodochody, first flying on 4 November 1968 and entering Warsaw Pact service in 1972. It became the world's first trainer powered by a turbofan engine - the Ivchenko AI-25TL - offering superior fuel economy over turbojets. Over 2,900 were built across several variants including the basic L-39C trainer and the L-39ZA light-attack variant with a 23mm cannon pod, and the type has served with more than 30 air forces worldwide.
SPECIFICATIONS
- manufacturer
- Aero Vodochody
- first Flight
- 1968
- role
- Jet trainer / Light attack
- crew
- 2 (student + instructor, tandem)
- engines
- 1x Ivchenko AI-25TL turbofan (16.87 kN / 3,792 lbf)
- max Speed
- 750 km/h (405 kts)
- range
- 1,100 km (594 nmi)
- ceiling
- 36,000 ft
- weight
- 4,700 kg (MTOW)