IRL: News about L-39

[foxtheancient]

Follows translation of article from Czech news portal [czech]. Excuse my english, it is far from perfection and I do know it.

 

Visualization of new L-39 NG

 

Vodochody has introduced new type of legendary Albatros aircraft

 

On Thursday Aero Vodochody has introduced aircraft L-39 CW with engine for new generation of aircrafts L-39 NG. Aero would like to start selling them from 2019. Company is now focusing on current flights of L-39 and is thinking about best solution how to keep current L-39s in best flight status.

 

Such has been told on Thursday's press by director of Aero Vodochody Guiseppe Giordo after first meeting of L-39 Albatros' users.

 

In occasion of meeting Aero has introduced technological news for L-39 and showed demonstation of aircraft L-39 CW. There was also discussion about creation of international training center and user's experience exchange.

 

Spokesperson of Aero Vodochody Tereza Vrublova said "Showed aircraft has new engine from Williams company and new avionics". Compared to previous generation new engine has much better acceleration. Aircraft is intended mainly for training purposes but it can be used as light attack aircraft. It has five hard points for weapon systems or other payload.

 

Prototype of L-39 NG aircraft should take off in 2018 (read details about new aircraft here [english]). It's development will take about 1 billion CZK [~42 million USD]. Areo has prepared it's programme to allow usage of new engine and avionics even in current L-39 aircrafts, though main focus is to sell new ones. Price of new aircraft may be around 10 millions USD so it should be cheaper than any similar product.

 

Aero said there is serious interest about new aircraft from several customers from Europe. Czech export bank is about to support aircraft's development by hundreds of millions of CZK [from millions to tens of millions USD]. General director of Czech export bank Karel Bureš declared the condition for bank's support: real expression of interest from potential customers.

 

Bank should also provide loans for those customers. Omnipol, the biggest Czech trader with military material, will help with sale matters and is contributing to development by 50%.

 

Project L-39 NG has been introducet in 2014. In comparison with current L-39 it will have new engine, avionics and other technical improvements with longer service life.

 

Training airfraft L-39 Albatros has been developped by Aero Vodochody in 60s and it is the most widespread jet training aicraft in the world. Manufactured were over 3000 pieces and in service is about 700 aircrafts in about 45 countries.

 

Aircraft will be equipped for night operations

 

Video is present at the end of the article containing short interview with Jan Štechr, vice president of Aero Vodochody [czech]. Translation of his words follows.

 

Aircraft has new engine with high reliability and lower fuel consumption so aircraft has longer range. We guessing about four and a half hours of flight time. It is a great improvement. Important changes will be in cockpit as well. Of course it will get modern avionics but also new canopy. Front canopy glass will be from one piece with no frame which will improve first pilot's visibility. Position of second pilot will be elevated.

 

Aicraft will get wet wing with fuel tank integrated. It will increase amount of fuel inside the aircraft and it's range. Because of this we are able to remove tip fuel tanks. As result of removing high weight from end of the wings aircraft's maneuverability will raise. It will be also equiped with 0-0 seats to meet modern aicraft's standards.

 

Girls next to L-39 NG at Days of NATO