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The Aero L-59 Super Albatros is a Czech military trainer aircraft developed from the firm's earlier L-39. 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 September 30, 1996, 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 August 2, 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.

In 2006, Czech offered to the Indonesian Air Forces (TNI-AU) the L-159B as a replacement for their Indonesian Hawk Mk 53. Indonesia haven't decided yet, while K-8 Karakorum from China, Aermacchi MB-339FD from Italy and Yakovlev Yak-130 from Russia are serious competitors to L-159B ^[1] .

[edit] Variants

• L-59 - standard production version (six L-39MS for Czechoslovakian Air Force). Later four in Czech Air Force, two in Slovak Air Force.
  • L-59E - Export version for Egypt. 48x L-59s for Egyptian Air Force
  • L-59T - Export version for Tunisia. 12x L-59s for Tunisian Air Force

[edit] Operators

 Egypt

Egyptian Air Force

 Tunisia

Tunisian Air Force

[edit] Specifications (L-59)

Aero Vodochody L159A Advanced Light Combat Aircraft of the Czech Air Force lined up for takeoff

General characteristics

• Crew: 2: student and instructor
• Length: 12.20 m (40 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 9.54 m (31 ft 3 in)
• Height: 4.77 m (15 ft 5 in)
• Wing area: 18.8 m² (202 ft²)
• Empty weight: 4,030 kg (8,866 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 7,000 kg (15,400 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Lotarev DV-2, 21.6 kN (4,850 lbf)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 870 km/h (470 knots, 540 mph)
• Range: 1,570 km (848 nm, 973 mi)
• Service ceiling: 12,200 m (37,720 ft)
• Rate of climb: 25 m/s (4,920 ft/min)

Armament

• 4 external hardpoints accommodating gunpods, bombs, and/or rockets

[edit] References

• Aero Vodochody Product Page

^[1] ANGKASA No.07 Edisi April 2007 (page 14-15)

[edit] See also

Lotarev DV-2 turbofan engine

Related development

• Aero L-159 Alca
  

Comparable aircraft

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