Description
The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer developed in Czechoslovakia by Aero Vodochody.General Information
It was designed during the 1960s as a replacement for the Aero L-29 Delfín as a principal training aircraft. It was the first trainer aircraft to be equipped with a turbofan powerplant. The type was exported to a wide range of countries as a military trainer.
The L-39 Albatros later served as the basis for the updated L-59 Super Albatros, as well as the L-139 (prototype L-39 with Garrett TFE731 engine). A further development of the design, designated as the L-159 ALCA, entered production in 1997. To date, more than 2,800 L-39s have served with over 30 air forces around the world. The Albatros is the most widely used jet trainer in the world; in addition to performing basic and advanced pilot training, it has also flown combat missions in a light-attack role. The design never received a NATO reporting name.
At the Farnborough Airshow in July 2014, Aero Vodochody announced the launch of the L-39NG, an upgraded and modernised version of the L-39.
For details of design, development, operational history and variants, click here.
Specifications
- Seats:
- 2
- Length:
- 12.13 m (39 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan:
- 9.46 m (31 ft 0 in)
- Height:
- 4.77 m (15 ft 8 in)
- Wing Area:
- 18.8 sq m (202 sq ft)
- Wing Loading:
- 250 kg/sq m (51 lb/sq ft)
- Empty Weight:
- 3,455 kg (7,617 lb)
- MTOW:
- 4,700 kg (10,362 lb)
- Powerplant:
- 1 × Ivchenko AI-25TL turbofan engine, 16.87 kN (3,790 lbf) thrust
- Vne:
- 980 km/h (610 mph, 530 kn) / M0.8
- Range:
- 1,100 km (680 mi, 590 nmi)(internal fuel); Ferry range: 1,750 km (1,090 mi, 940 nmi) (internal and external fuel)
- Takeoff Dist.:
- 530 m (1,739 ft)
- Landing Dist.:
- 650 m (2,133 ft)
- Rate of Climb:
- Rate of climb: 21 m/s (4,100 ft/min); Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,404 ft) in 5 minutes
- Service Ceiling:
- 11,000 m (36,000 ft)
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