Aero L-59 Super Albatros

History of the Aero L-59 Super Albatross

Aero Vodochody was founded in post-war Europe in early 1919 and became known as a developer of Czech high-performance aircraft. Its pedigree ranged from the A.11 series biplanes in 1921 to the popular L-39 "Albatross" two-seater jet trainer in 1972.

A number of similar aircraft were derived from the latter, including the improved L-59 Super Albatross in 1986 and the more modern L-159 ALCA. The L-59 was eventually adopted by Czechoslovakia, Egypt and Tunisia.

The L-59 was developed along the same production line of jet-powered two-seater trainers as the previous L-39. The aircraft features a two-seat tandem configuration (students in front, instructor in the back) with a single Progress DV-2 turbofan engine producing 4,850 pounds of thrust. Compared to the L-39, the L-59 received a lengthened, reinforced fuselage structure, modern avionics and more powerful engine equipment. A HUD (Head-Up Display) has been added to the cockpit for improved situational awareness and mission support.

Dimensions include a length of 12.2 meters, a wingspan of 9.5 meters and a height of 4.7 meters. Curb weight is 8,865 lbs and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 15,435 lbs. Performance specs include a top speed of 535 mph, a range of up to 1,245 miles, and a service ceiling of 38,785 feet.

The climb rate was close to 5,510 feet per minute.

The first flight of the prototype took place on September 30, 1986. Production spanned from 1986 to 1996 until the L-59 was used by the Czechoslovak Air Force as the L-39MS in a batch of six aircraft. After the disintegration of Czechoslovakia in 1993, four of the aircraft were in service with the new Czech Air Force and the rest were owned by the Slovak Air Force. Two slightly different export brands were then delivered to Egypt, the L-59E (49 units) and the L-59T (12 units).

These were produced by Aero Vodochody and marked the end of production of the L-59 series (a total of 67 were built). Its replacement became the L-159 ALCA (Advanced Light Combat Aircraft), with 72 prototypes produced and delivered to the Czech Republic and Iraq.

Despite being a trainer in nature, the L-59 retains some combat capability. It's not a 4th generation front-line multirole fighter like the West or Russia, but its airframe is proven to be capable of light strike missions, making it an attractive purchase for more budget-conscious nations that require single-plane dual-role service Airframes that train pilots and provide inherent close air support (CAS) or low-altitude strike capabilities.

Thus, when armed for combat (or even weapons training), the armed version carries a Soviet-style GSh-23L cannon in a pod mounted under the fuselage for close-quarter work. The four underwing attachment points also support external ammunition up to 2,200 pounds, allowing the L-59 to be outfitted with standard conventionally thrown bombs, rocket pods, or cannon pods as needed.

Tunisian L-59 aircraft undergoing major overhaul.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes