~ Restoration of  L-39C Albatros N139SR ~

~ Anoka County Airport, Blaine, MN ~

The Aero Vodochody L-39 was built by Czechoslovakia as the successor to their earlier trainer, the L-29 Delfin. Design work began in 1966, and the first prototype made its initial flight on November 4, 1968. The idea of the design was to marry an efficient, powerful turbofan engine to a sleek, streamlined low-wing, tandem seating fuselage, resulting in a strong all metal, economical performer which would become the next standard jet trainer for the Warsaw Pact. Full-scale production was delayed until late 1972 due to apparent problems with the design of the air intakes, but these difficulties were overcome and the type went on to be a great success with the Soviet, Czech and East German air forces, among others.

Over 2,800 aircraft were produced in three main variants: The L-39C was built as a pure trainer and was used by numerous air forces throughout Eastern Europe beginning in 1974 and continuing through today. The armed weapons-trainer variant is called the L-39ZA, and a close-support and ground-attack version is called the L-39ZO. In addition to those mentioned above, the L-39 has been exported to numerous countries, including Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Iraq, Kyrghyzstan, Libya, Romania, and Ukraine. A modernized derivative of the Albatros, the L-59, is still being built in the Czech Republic.

With an unknown number still serving in military service, the L-39 is the most popular jet warbird in the world, with over 220 believed to be actively flying in the USA alone.