Markings for L-29 Delfín 1/72

a/c No. 2853, 1 Squadron, 11 Fighter Regiment, Žatec, Czech Republic, 1993

This Delfin received its coloring at the beginning of June 1993. It was created by the ground crew under the leadership of kpt. Ing. Karel Krejčí and it was introduced to the public on July 10 of the same year at an airshow in Žatec. After the disbandment of the 11 Fighter Regiment, the aircraft was transferred to the 1 Training Regiment at Přerov. The entire aircraft, including the drop tanks, was cleaned and degreased and the national insignia and fuselage number were covered by tape. After that, the aircraft was painted yellow, followed by the black tiger stripes.

3250, International Fighter Pilots Academy, Košice, Slovak Republic, 1993

The International Fighter Pilot Academy was formed at the beginning of 1993 at Košice as an official training unit allowing civil clients to take part in aerial exercises on military aircraft, including helicopters. One of the aircraft that were used in this role and were also funded for in the budget of the Slovak Air Force, was this L-29. The fuselage of this Delfin was painted grey, while the wings received a striking scheme consisting of red, white and blue segments reminiscent of past aerobatic schemes. The IFPA badge was carried under the windscreen on both sides of the aircraft. 

378, 101 Fighter Reconaissance Wing, Szolnok Air Base, Hungary, Summer 1978

The L-29 factory number 591378 was built in 1965 and delivered to Hungarian AF to serve at Szolnok Air Force Base with 101 Fighter Reconnaissance Wing. In the first part of its active life the aircraft flew in natural metal colors with Red 378 board number. The aircraft returned twice to Czechoslovakia for overhaul in the Trenčín factory, in 1971 and 1978. After the second overhaul it received a new camouflage scheme represented here. These are Czech colors which were very different from Hungarian AF official coloring. Later several new patches of dark green were added by Hungarian technicians as repairs. It is interesting that this aircraft is still in service but this time in private hand in USA as N21KE. After withdrawal from Hungarian AF in March 1983 it was sold in summer of 1984 and had a colorful after-life, flying in VVS colors as 09 with red star. With breakup of the Soviet Union, it received YL-PAD registration to be shipped eventually to Scotland in mid 1990s and kept in open storage for many years. It was sold again and shipped to the US, after refurbishment flew as Red 09 from Minnetonka.

N179EP, Reno AFB, United States of America, 2009

The American company Tactical Air Services owns two L-29 Delfins and these are used to train army and navy elements by simulating incoming anti-shipping or air-to-surface rounds. During RIMPAC 2010 (Rim Of The Pacific – the largest international naval exercise) they were photographed on the deck of LHD-6 Bon Homme Richard. Aircraft N179EP is camouflaged similarly to the aircraft operated by the Russian Air Force, including Russian stars on the wings and fin.

3246, 3 Squadron, 1 Fighter Regiment, Planá Air Base, Czechoslovakia, 1969–1970

While most L-29s served as trainers with training units, some aircraft were allocated to combat units to help in maintaining pilot’s ratings at a minimal expense. One such aircraft was this L-29 coded 3246, which was assigned to 3 Squadron of the 1 Fighter Regiment based at České Budějovice. The aircraft served there right from its acceptance in 1969 up to the mid-eighties. Later, it was transferred to a training regiment in Košice and stayed operational up to 2003. During 1969–70, the Squadron emblem was painted on the nose consisting of a devil on a dark blue background, the same as used on MiG-21PFMs of the unit. The red trim was part of the standard scheme in which the L-29s were delivered to the main client, the Soviet Union.