Odolena Voda. 16 September 2016. AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE and its business partner Omnipol invited representatives of many countries to the 1st L-39 Users’ Group Conference to celebrate the legendary jet aircraft.
Austria, Bangladesh, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania, Mozambique, Nigeria, Slovakia, Thailand, Tunisia and Uganda – representatives of these countries arrived in AERO to share their experience with the L-39 Albatros jet trainer. The 1st L-39 Users’ Group Conference was held under auspices of the Czech Air Force. The former Air Force Commander Brigadier General Libor Štefánik as well as the representatives of AERO and Omnipol held a speech during the conference.
Giuseppe Giordo, the president and CEO of AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE appreciated the value of this meeting. “The legacy of the L-39 Albatros is a big commitment for us. We would be happy if this conference was a start of a long-lasting relationship with the users of this remarkable aircraft from all over the world. I believe together we can write the next successful chapter of this marvelous machine,” said Giordo.
The aim of the meeting was not only the celebration of past successes of the aircraft, but also the future outlook of the program. The attendees discussed the sustainment services and possible further development of the aircraft, but they have also been introduced to the project of a new military aircraft currently driven by AERO – the L-39NG. For current users of the L-39, AERO offers a smooth transition to the L-39NG conceived as a two-step process starting with the installation of a new engine and optional avionics into existing airframes and followed by the transition to the entirely new L-39NG airframe while using the previously acquired engine and avionics.
The conceptual and strategic approach of the OMNIPOL group is shown by its 50% share in the development of the next generation of the L-39 jet trainer. In this project OMNIPOL acts also as strategic business partner. It is no secret that the aircraft has a very successful past. Since 1971, when the first mass-produced Albatros (L-39 aircraft) was produced, almost 3,000 of them have been exported around the world. OMNIPOL CEO Michal Hon adds, “Business experience, contacts and long-term professional reliability are OMNIPOL’s strategic contributions to the L-39NG project. But they are not the only things. As we really believe in this project, we are contributing half the financing to its development.”
The conference was closed by a ceremony and flight display of aircraft made by Aero, including demonstrator of L-39NG, that has proven successful progress in the development of the new aircraft. Some of the delegations will attend also NATO Days & Czech Air Force Days, the biggest security show in Europe that takes place in Ostrava, Czech Republic on the weekend. Both Aero and OMNIPOL are partners of the show and the L-39NG will be promoted on a static display.
The L-39 and its successors L-59, L-139 and L-159 are jet triners. Over 3,000 aircraft of this type were manufactured up to now and the jet trainer has been used by 45 military operators. Today, the aircraft is operated also by civil customers in at least 15 countries. The L-39 proved its qualities in 15 aerobatic teams all over the world, 8 of them still active as of today. The L-39 family has a total log of over 5,000,000 flight hours with dozens of thousands of pilots trained on jets made in AERO. The aircraft became a legend not only because of its excellent manoeuvrability, but also for its ability to successfully complete missions in all climatic conditions.
The L-39NG aircraft is a modern and effective trainer designed as a unified, comprehensive training system for modern air forces. The L-39NG is based on the aerodynamic concept of the current L-39, but utilizes the latest technologies and equipment. Power is provided by the highly modern FJ44-4M engine supplied with the TAP Blue engine support service to ensure unprecedented airworthiness and predictable maintenance costs. The aircraft’s avionics are prepared to train future pilots of 4th and 5th generation aircraft and can be tailored to the customer’s requirements to a great extent. The L-39NG is equipped with five mounting points for weapons. The aircraft also features a broad range of simulation technologies, including the integration into high-tech tactical simulation centres with the goal of increasing training efficiency.
