Aero L-59 Super Albatros

L-59 Super Albatros

Role: Military trainer aircraft
Manufacturer: Aero Vodochody
First flight: 30 September 1986
Primary users: Czech Air Force Egyptian Air Force Tunisian Air Force
Developed from: Aero L-39 Albatros

The Aero L-59 Super Albatros is a Czech military trainer aircraft developed from the firm's earlier L-39 Albatros. Compared to its predecessor, it featured a strengthened fuselage, longer nose, a vastly updated cockpit, and a more powerful engine. At the time of its first flight on 30 September 1986, it was designated the L-39MS.

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 2 August 1997. The aircraft features mostly Western avionics, with systems integration undertaken by Boeing. The Czech Republic is currently the only operator of the type. Since then a new two-seat trainer has been flown as the L-159B Albatros II.

Variants

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.

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.

Operators

Egypt

Egyptian Air Force

Tunisia

Tunisian Air Force

Specifications (L-59E)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94

General characteristics

Crew: 2: student and instructor
Length: 12.20 m (40 ft 0¼ in)
Wingspan: 9.54 m (31 ft 3½ in)
Height: 4.77 m (15 ft 7¾ in)
Wing area: 18.80 m² (202.4 ft²)
Empty weight: 4,030 kg (8,866 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 7,000 kg (15,432 lb)
Powerplant: 1x— Lotarev DV-2 Turbofan, 21.57 kN (4,850 lbf)

Performance

Maximum speed: 865 km/h (467 knots, 537 mph) at 5,000 m (16,400 ft)
Stall speed: 185 km/h (100 knots, 115 mph) (flaps down)
Range: 2,000 km (1,079 nmi, 1,243 mi) max internal and external fuel
Service ceiling: 11,800 m (38,785 ft)
Rate of climb: 28 m/s (5,510 ft/min)

Armament

Guns: 1 x— GSh-23L cannon in underfuselage pod
Hardpoints: 4 underwing hardpoints with a capacity of inner hardpoints 500 kg (1,100 lb) capacity, outer hardpoints 250 kg (550 lb)

Picture - Lotarev DV-2 turbofan engine

Related development

Aero L-159 Alca

Comparable aircraft

BAe Hawk
IAR 99 Åžoim
Mikoyan MiG-AT
Soko G-4 Super Galeb
Yakovlev Yak-130

Lake, Jon. "Aero L-39 Albatross family: Variant Briefing". World Air Power Journal, Volume 43, Winter 2000. London:Aerospace Publishing. pp.116-131. ISBN 1-86184-055-1.
Lambert, Mark (ed.). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0 7106 1066 1.

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Source: WikiPedia