Aero L-59 Super Albatros
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| L-59 Super Albatros | |
|---|---|
| Type | Military trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Aero Vodochody |
| Maiden flight | 30 September 1996 |
| 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. 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] .
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[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 - 48x L-59s for Egyptian Air Force
- L-59T - 12x L-59s for Tunisian Air Force
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (L-59)
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× ZMKB 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
[1] ANGKASA No.07 Edisi April 2007 (page 14-15)
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
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