Aero L-59 Super Albatros

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L-59 / L-159 Super Albatros

Czech Air Force L-159 taxiing
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.

1 Variants
2 Specifications (L-59)
3 References
4 Related content

[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
L-159A - single-seat attack aircraft (72 for Czech Air Force)
L-159B - trainer version (some Czech L-159As to be converted to this variant)