Aero L-59 Super Albatros
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-59F: Proposed version furnished with an Elbit-supplied avionics package and powered by a Honeywell/ITEC F124 engine.
- 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