The first prototype of the Albatros made its maiden flight on November 4,1968, at Aero's factory airfield in Odolena Voda near Prague. The flight test programme saw the use of four prototypes, while the first production-standard L-39s were delivered to the-then Czechoslovakian Air Force in March 1972. The new type was used to replace the L-29 Delfin and the MiG-15UTI in the basic and advanced training roles for fast-jet pilots. It was provided with two underwing pylons for UB-16-57U 16-round 57mm rocket packs, practice bombs weighing up to 100kg (220lb) or I-318 heat-seeking air-to-air training rounds. Later, this initial version was redesigned as the L-39C (C denoting Cviceni, or training).
展开▼
