List of Aero L-39 Albatros operators
Blue: Current military
Cyan: Current civilian
Red: Former
The List of Aero L-39 Albatros operators lists the countries and their air force units that have operated the aircraft:
Military operators
Abkhazia
- 4 L-39s as of December 2009
Afghanistan
The Afghan Air Force operated as many as 26 L-39Cs from 1977 through 2001, with some reports indicating as many as two may remain serviceable.
Algeria
Operates 7 L-39C and 32 L-39ZA aircraft in two squadrons:
- 632e Escadron d'Instruction et d'Appuis "Tigre"
- 18e Escadron d'Entrainement Avancé
Armenia
- 6 aircraft.
Azerbaijan
- L-39C
223 aircraft
Bangladesh
- Operating 7 L-39ZA out of 8 L-39ZA acquired in late 1990s.
One was lost in a crash in 2012 killing a pilot.
Belarus
Bulgaria
- 1/12 Training Squadron operating 12 L-39ZA aircraft
Cambodia
- Fighter Squadron operating 8 L-39ZA aircraft
Chad
- Operating 11 L-39ZO aircraft.
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
- Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Air Force
Chechens operated few L-39Cs taken over from Soviet Air Force inventory. All Chechen aircraft were destroyed during First Chechen War after Russian air strike on airfield in Grozny, though 4 were reported to have been donated to Abkhazia by Dzhokhar Dudayev.
Republic of the Congo
Cuba
operating 30 L-39C aircraft in three squadrons:
- UM 3710 Escuadrón de Intercepcion
- UM 1660 Escuela de Ensenanza de Vuelo Avanzada
- UM 4768 Escuadrón de Intercepcion
Czech Republic
- L-39C
- L-39ZA
- L-39V
- L-39MS
Czechoslovakia
- 33x L-39C
- 6x L-39MS
- 8x L-39V
- 30x L-39ZA
Two Czechoslovakian AF L-39Vs were delivered to the East German Air Force.[1]
All Czechoslovakian Air Force aircraft passed to successor states - Czech Republic and Slovakia.
East Germany
- 52x L-39ZO
- 2x L-39V
- Two former Czechoslovak L-39Vs delivered to the East German Air Force.[1]
- Twenty former East German L-39ZO delivered to Hungary.[1]
Egypt
- 40x L-39ZO
- Ten former Libyan L-39ZO delivered to Egypt.[1]
Equatorial Guinea
- 2 aircraft.
Estonia
- 2 aircraft.
Ethiopia
- 17x L-39C
Ghana
- 2 L-39ZO
Hungary
- 20x L-39ZO
- Twenty former East German L-39ZO delivered to Hungary [1]
Iraq
- 22x L-39C
- 59x L-39ZO
Kazakhstan
- L-39C
Kyrgyzstan
- L-39C
Libya
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- 181x L-39ZO aqcquired during Gadaffi's era.
- Ten former Libyan L-39ZO delivered to Egypt.[1]
- At least 3 operational with the new Libyan Air Force in 2013
Lithuania
- 4x L-39C
- 2x L-39ZA
Nicaragua
Nigeria
- 24x L-39ZA
North Korea
- 60 L-39C
Romania
- 32x L-39ZA
Russia
- ~1010 L-39C
Slovakia
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- L-39C
- L-39ZA
Soviet Union
- 2080x L-39C
All Soviet Air Force aircraft passed to successor states: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
Syria
- 4x L-39ZA
Thailand
- 40x L-39ZA/ART
Following Squadrons use the L-39ZA/ART
- 401 Sqn 4th Wing RTAFB Thakli
- 411 Sqn 41st Wing RTAFB Chiang Mai
Following Squadrons are former users of the L-39ZA/ART
- 101 Sqn 1st Wing RTAFB Khorat
- 102 Sqn 1st Wing RTAFB Khorat
Tunisia
- 12 aircraft.
Turkmenistan
- 2 aircraft.
Uganda
- 3 L-39ZA
Ukraine
- 0 L-39C
ДПМПΤАЛ
Uzbekistan
- L-39C
Vietnam
- 24x L-39C
Yemen
- 12x L-39C
Civil Operators
France
A civilian aerobatic display team based in Dijon, France; operating seven L-39 Albatros jets in the colours of their sponsor, Breitling.
Soviet Union
DOSAAF paramilitary organization, tasked with the training and preparation of reserves for the Soviet armed forces, operated unknown number of L-39.
Canada
- Northern Lights Aerobatics Team
Northern Lights Aerobatics Team from Montreal used 2 L-39C in 2000, but ceased operating them and performing airshows after 2000.[2] The aircraft were registered and based in the US with Northern Lights USA of Lafayette, LA with 1 lost in crash in 2001.
United States
Hundreds of L-39s are finding new homes with private owners all over the world, especially in the United States.
Australia
A small number of L-39s are flown in Australia as jet flight experiences for paying public.
References
- Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 182, No. 5370, 11–17 December 2012. pp. 40–64. ISSN 0015-3710.
- Aero L-39 Albatros page in Scramble magazine