L-59 Super Albatros
Role	Military trainer aircraft COIN
Manufacturer	Aero Vodochody
First flight	30 September 1986
Status	Out of production, in service
Primary users	Czech Air Force Egyptian Air Force Tunisian Air Force
Produced	1986–1996
Developed from	Aero L-39 Albatros
Variants	Aero L-159 Alca

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 30 September 1986, it was designated the L-39MS.^[1] Aero no longer produces this aircraft.^[2]

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. Since then a new two-seat trainer has been flown as the L-159B Albatros II.

Variants[edit]

L-59

Standard production version (six L-39MS for Czechoslovak Air Force). Later four in Czech Air Force, two in Slovak Air Force.^[1]

L-59E

Export version for Egypt. 49 x L-59s for Egyptian Air Force.^[1]

L-59T

Export version for Tunisia. 12 x L-59s for Tunisian Air Force.^[3]

Operators[edit]

 Egypt

• 
  Egyptian Air Force 48 delivered in 1993-1994.^[4]

 Tunisia

• 
  Tunisian Air Force 12 delivered in 1995-1996.^[4]

Combat history[edit]

In April 2014, Tunisian L-59s were used in reconnaissance and COIN strikes in support of major military offensives in the border region of Mount Chaambi against Ansar al-Sharia and al-Qaeda-linked militants that aim at destabilizing Tunisia's transition to democracy.^[5]

Specifications (L-59E)[edit]

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94 ^[6]

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^[7] (8,866 lb)


• 
  Max. takeoff weight: 7,000 kg (15,432 lb)


• 
  Powerplant: 1 × 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 × 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)

See also[edit]

Lotarev DV-2 turbofan engine

Related development

• Aero L-159 Alca

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• BAe Hawk


• IAR 99 Şoim


• Mikoyan MiG-AT


• Soko G-4 Super Galeb


• Yakovlev Yak-130


• PZL I-22 Iryda

References[edit]

Notes

Bibliography

• 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.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aero Vodochody aircraft.

• Aero Vodochody Product Page