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L-39C
Albatros
The
L-39 Albatros is a
subsonic advanced trainer and entry level attack fighter
manufactured by Aero Vodochody of Czechoslovakia. Powered by an
Ivechenko (AI-25) 3,800 pound thrust, high by-pass turbo fan engine,
the L-39 has a maximum indicated airspeed of 490 knots (563 mph) or
.85 mach and a gross take-off weight of 11,484 pounds. Initial rate
of climb is 4,500 feet per minute.
Although the service ceiling is 38,000
feet, normal cruise speed is 360 knots (415 mph) in the mid twenty
thousand foot range, burning about 130 gallons of fuel per hour.
With internal stores the aircraft has an endurance of 2 hours and 18
minutes; but with no wind, range is slightly less than 600 nautical
miles with reasonable VFR reserves.
Approach is performed at about
135 knots, and landing is at about 100 knots. Fully aerobatic, the
L-39 is stressed for positive 8 G's and negative 4 G's.
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Until recently
the Albatros was the primary
aircraft of its type in the eastern block countries, and over 3,000
have been produced. Recently a 49 percent interest in Aero Vodochody
was acquired by Boeing and Allied Signal where the same airframe is
now produced for NATO and the western world as the L-159, powered by
a Garrett turbofan with Honeywell avionics.
Since the breakup of the Soviet Union these
aircraft, as well as most other military aircraft, have become
available to the public by governments who are desperate for hard
currencies and eager to sell aircraft that they can no longer afford
to operate. About 200 of the L-39 models have been imported to date,
but only 100 or so are actually certificated for flight.
Operating
restrictions limit flight for training and proficiency purposes,
exhibition, and transportation to and from air shows.
These aircraft range
in age from 1979 to
1991; one was purchased new from the factory. It sports the original
Russian markings, as it was prepared for shipment to the Russian Air
Force when it was purchased by the Red Stars team.
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All aircraft
have
low time airframes, and the maintenance is current and consistent
with the requirements of the manufacturer. the ejection seats are
fully operational.
What We Provide
- The only civilian owned Four
Ship Jet Team.
- Authentic Russian camouflage
paint that provides great crowd appeal and attraction.
-
Precision formation flying punctuated with exciting solo aerobatics breakouts
from the formation.
- Extremely popular in static display.
- Accessibility to the aircraft afforded by pilots who encourage
spectator contact.
- We are
accommodating and easy to work with - no long list of requirements
like the military jet teams demand.
- We provide affordable jet team excitement and attraction at a
fraction of the cost of military jet teams.
- JETS,
JETS, JETS - Jets are what the spectators want
to see and hear at the Air Show.
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