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Aero L-59 Super Albatros

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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
The first prototype L-39MS designated X-21, is currently in the Odolena Voda Technological Institute as teaching material.
General information
TypeMilitary trainer aircraft
COIN
ManufacturerAero Vodochody
StatusOut of production, in service
Primary usersCzech Air Force
Number built80[1]
History
Manufactured1986–1996
First flight30 September 1986
Developed fromAero L-39 Albatros
VariantsAero L-159 Alca

The Aero L-59 Super Albatros (also known as the L-39MS Albatros) is a military jet trainer produced by the Czechoslovakian aerospace manufacturer Aero Vodochody. It was developed from the firm's earlier and highly successful L-39 Albatros series.

Being based on the L-39, it shares numerous similarities; in comparison to its predecessor, the L-59 featured a strengthened fuselage, longer nose, a vastly updated cockpit, advanced avionics, and a more powerful Lotarev DV-2 engine. First flown on 30 September 1986, it was procured by the Czech Air Force, Egyptian Air Force, and Tunisian Air Force; a total of 80 Super Albatros of three variants have been manufactured prior to the end of production. A further development would be produced as the Aero L-159 Alca, a Westernised attack-orientated model that shared its fuselage configuration with the L-59.

In service, the L-59 has been largely used for training purposes. It has also been deployed in front-line light combat roles, such as to patrol the border between Libya and Tunisia around the height of the First Libyan Civil War. Furthermore, Tunisian Air Force L-59s also performed aerial reconnaissance and ground-attack missions against Ansar al-Sharia and al-Qaeda-linked militants in 2014.

Development

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During the 1980s, the Czechoslovakian aerospace manufacturer Aero Vodochody was keen to further develop their successful L-39 Albatros, a trainer and light attack aircraft. It decided to produce a derivative with an improved fuselage, an elongated nose, and fitted with a more powerful Lotarev DV-2 turbofan engine capable of generating up to 21.6 kN (4,850 lbf) of thrust. The latter facilitated operations at higher weights, while the aircraft also had a higher maximum speed having risen to 872 km/h (542 mph)).[2][3] The new aircraft was also furnished with more capable avionics and a vastly updated cockpit, which included a head-up display.[1][4] At first, the aircraft was designed to be exclusively a trainer, but after reconsideration it was decided it would be a light attack aircraft and trainers with the designation L-39MS (Modernization Super). Some time after conducting its maiden flight on 30 September 1986, the aircraft was redesignated as the L-59. Export versions of the aircraft would also carry the L-59 designation.[5][6]

During 1992, a dedicated single-seat attack variant was proposed under the project name ALCA (Advanced Light Combat Aircraft); it was successfully marketed to the Czech Air Force.[7] Designated L-159A, the first flight of this variant was conduct on 2 August 1997. It features mostly Western avionics, with systems integration undertaken by Boeing. Furthermore, a new two-seat trainer has been flown as the L-159B Albatros II.[8]

By 2013, Aero's official website stated that the L-59 was no longer in production or available from the company. Services provided for the type included the provision of spare parts, service-life extensions, special repairs, overhauls, modifications and upgrades.[1]

Operational history

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Initial deliveries of the L-59 were made to the Czechoslovak Air Force, who briefly operated a small fleet of six L-39MS prior to the nation's separation into the Czech Republic and Slovakia; consequently, these aircraft were divided between the Czech Air Force and the Slovak Air Force.[5] The L-59's most numerous operator, and its first export customer, was the Egyptian Air Force; a total of 69 L-59E aircraft would be delivered to the service.[9] Early Egyptian operations encountered poor engine reliability; this matter let to a contract to the American aerospace firm AlliedSignal to produce an improved digital engine control system.[10] The type had reportedly been intended for use as a lead-in-fighter trainer for the service's General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and Dassault Mirage 2000 fleets, and were equipped to be armed with Eastern-supplied weaponry. However, the Egyptian Air Force L-59s saw little use, allegedly being placed into storage around 1999.[11]

During the early to mid 1990s, various export opportunities were pursued by Aero Vodochody for the L-59, complimenting its continued sales efforts with the L-39 predecessor.[9] One opportunity pursued was the Royal Australian Air Force's lead-in fighter-trainer requirement, an effort which would ultimately be unsuccessful. There were also proposed variants, such as the L-59F, that were to be provisioned with equipment from overseas suppliers, such as avionics from the Israeli company Elbit, and adoption of the American-Taiwanese Honeywell/ITEC F124 turbofan engine in place of the Lotarev DV-2 of earlier variants.[9]

In 1995, deliveries of L-59Ts commenced to the Tunisian Air Force, a total of 12 were delivered to the service.[12][13] The type has been typically used for advanced pilot training and weapons training purposes, with a secondary focus on conducting light combat operations as well. During the First Libyan Civil War in 2011, Tunisian L-59s commonly flew armed patrol missions along the country's border with Libya.[11] During April 2014, a number of Tunisian L-59s performed multiple reconnaissance missions and counter-insurgency (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 aimed to destabilize Tunisia's transition to democracy.[14] In 2022, it was speculated that Tunisia's L-59T fleet would be rapidly replaced in the near future, the Boeing–Saab T-7 Red Hawk has been suggested as a candidate.[15]

Variants

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L-59
Standard production version (six L-39MS for the Czechoslovak Air Force). Later, four aircraft were operated by the Czech Air Force, and two in the Slovak Air Force.[5]
L-59E
Export version for Egypt. 49 L-59s for the Egyptian Air Force.[5]
L-59F
Proposed version furnished with an Elbit-supplied avionics package and powered by a Honeywell/ITEC F124 engine.[9]
L-59T
Export version for Tunisia. 12 L-59s for the Tunisian Air Force.[12]

Operators

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 Czech Republic
 Czechoslovakia
 Egypt
 Slovakia
 Tunisia

Specifications (L-59E)

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Lotarev DV-2 turbofan engine

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94[17]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 12.20 m (40 ft 0 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.54 m (31 ft 4 in) (including tip tanks)
  • Height: 4.77 m (15 ft 8 in)
  • Wing area: 18.80 m2 (202.4 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 4,030 kg (8,885 lb) (includes gun)
  • Max takeoff weight: 7,000 kg (15,432 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 1,537 L (406 US gal; 338 imp gal) including tip tanks
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lotarev DV-2 turbofan, 21.57 kN (4,850 lbf) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 865 km/h (537 mph, 467 kn) at 5,000 m (16,000 ft)
  • Stall speed: 185 km/h (115 mph, 100 kn) (flaps down)
  • Range: 2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi) at 7,000 m (23,000 ft) (with maximum internal and external fuel)
  • Service ceiling: 11,800 m (38,700 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 28.0 m/s (5,510 ft/min)

Armament

  • Guns: one GSh-23L cannon in under-fuselage pod
  • Hardpoints: four underwing hardpoints with a capacity of inner hardpoints 500 kg (1,100 lb)capacity, outer hardpoints 250 kg (550 lb)

See also

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Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c "L-39 Albatros / L-59 Super Albatros". Aero Vodochody. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  2. ^ Lake 2000, p. 118.
  3. ^ "Czechoslovakia: Aero L-39 Albatros". Flight International. 21 August 1990. p. 36. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  4. ^ Fredriksen, John C. (2001). International Warbirds: An Illustrated Guide to World Military Aircraft, 1914–2000. ABC-CLIO. p. 5. ISBN 9781576073643.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Lake 2000, p. 128.
  6. ^ "Proudové letouny Aero - část 3". www.hitechweb.genezis.eu. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  7. ^ Stevenson, Beth. "Aero Vodochody produces new-build L-159 trainer for Iraq". FlightGlobal. Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Podívejte se na výrobu cvičného letounu pro armádní piloty". technet.idnes.cz. 17 May 2007.
  9. ^ a b c d "The Albatros evolves". Flight International. 3 May 1995.
  10. ^ "Improved digital engine control system ordered for Egypt's L-59s". Flight International. 26 November 1997.
  11. ^ a b "The 39's steps..." timesaerospace.aero. 27 February 2018.
  12. ^ a b Lake 2000, p. 129.
  13. ^ "L-59 to make its first appearance at the Malta International Airshow". maltairshow.com. 28 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Tunisia: Air Force Bombs Terrorist Camp in Mount Chaambi". allafrica.com. 11 April 2014.
  15. ^ "Boeing swoops into military training jet battle". africaintelligence.com. 12 January 2022.
  16. ^ a b "History and Development".
  17. ^ Lambert 1993, pp. 64–65.

Bibliography

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  • 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.
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