Aero L-59 Super Albatros

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The Aero L-59 Super Albatros is a Czech military jet trainer developed from the firm's earlier L-39 Albatros. Compared to its predecessor, it featured a strengthened fuselage, longer nose, a vastly updated cockpit, advanced avionics (including head-up display), and a more powerful engine. At the time of its first flight on September 30th 1986, it was designated the L-39MS. Aero no longer produces this aircraft.

In 1992, a dedicated single-seat attack variant was proposed under the project name ALCA (Advanced Light Combat Aircraft), and was successfully marketed to the Czech Air Force. First flight of this variant, designated L-159A, was on August 2nd, 1997. The aircraft features mostly Western avionics, with systems integration undertaken by Boeing IDS. Since then a new two-seat trainer has been flown as the L-159B Albatros II.

Variants[edit | edit source]

  • L-59: Standard production version (six L-39MS for Czechoslovak Air Force). Later four in Czech Air Force, two in Slovak Air Force.
  • L-59E: Export version for Egypt. 49 x L-59s for Egyptian Air Force.
  • L-59T: Export version for Tunisia. 12 x L-59s for Tunisian Air Force.

Users[edit | edit source]

  • Czech Republic
    • Czech Air Force
  • Czechoslovakia
    • Czechoslovak Air Force
  • Egypt
    • Egyptian Air Force
  • Slovakia
    • Slovak Air Force
  • Tunisia
    • Tunisian Air Force

See Also[edit | edit source]

Related Development[edit | edit source]

Comparable Aircraft[edit | edit source]