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L-39C, No. 20, Kazakhstan Air Force,
Taldykorgan AB, Kazakhstan, 2012
L-39C, s/n 131904, OK
-
JET, Czech Jet Team, airport Plzeň-Líně,
Czech Republic, 2004–2014
The Sunkar is one of the two aerobatic groups of
the Kazakh Air Force. The Kazakh term Sunkar
means “Falcon” and the group uses L-39 Albatros
aircraft. It was formed in the fall of 2010 and
has been given six L-39s. In March 2011, it made
a name for itself at the International Exhibition
of Arms and Military Technical Equipment
(KADEX) in Astana and demonstrates its skills
every year during the celebration of Air Force
Day. The Kazakhstan Air Force operates a total of
18 L-39 aircraft. In 2020/2021, six of these L-39s
underwent upgrades at Aero Vodochody, during
which the aircraft received modern avionics
equipment, including a pair of MFDs. The aircraft
are in service at the Kazakh Air Force training
center in Balkhash.
This aircraft was produced by Aero Vodochody in
1981 as part of the 19th production series as the
C1 version. It was delivered to the Soviet Union
together with 35 other aircraft of this series.
It served at the Ukrainian Chernigov Air Base
as “Yellow 53” and was flown by members of the
Soviet space program group in addition to military
pilots. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the
aircraft remained with several hundred other
Albatroses in Ukraine but was only stored and
ready for sale. In September 2002, it was bought
by a Pilsen aviation enthusiast and in February
2003 the dismantled aircraft was transported by
truck to the Plzeň-Líně airport. In cooperation
with Aero Vodochody, work was carried out on
demilitarization of the aircraft, necessary repairs
and modifications of systems and avionics.
Instead of the original 100 litre wingtip tanks,
230 litre ones of the same type as used on the
L-59/L-159 were installed. On July 12, 2003, the
aircraft passed its first engine test and on July 7,
2004, it took to the air for test flight. On the same
day, the aircraft was registered by the Civilian
Aviation Bureau in the register of aircraft in the
Experimental category under the matriculation
OK
-
JET. The official entry into service of the first
private-owned Czech Albatros took place on July
13, 2004. The L-39 Albatros OK
-
JET aircraft in
its unmistakable glossy black paint with yellow
accessory has been a welcome visitor of the
airshows since then and has performed many
adventurous flights.
KITS 02/2024
INFO Eduard48
February 2024