Aero L-59 Super Albatros

Not to be confused with Albatros L 59.
"Albatros II" redirects here. For the fisheries research ship Albatross II, see USS Patuxent (AT-11).
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 trainer aircraft 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

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

 Egypt
 Tunisia

Combat history

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)

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

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Lotarev DV-2 turbofan engine
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 Lake 2000, p. 128.
  2. ↑ "Aero". Aero Vodochody. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  3. ↑ Lake 2000, p. 129.
  4. 1 2 History and Development
  5. ↑ http://allafrica.com/stories/201404141763.html
  6. ↑ Lambert 1993, pp. 64–65.
  7. ↑ Includes gun.
Bibliography

External links

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