KITS 10/2023

L-39C, s/n 530443, High Military Aviation School, Košice AB,

Czechoslovak Air Force, Czechoslovakia, 1974

In military aviation training, the subsonic jet

trainer L-39 Albatros plays an indispensable

role. The first flight of the prototype X-02 took

place on November 4, 1968. The Czechoslovak

People’s Army logically became the first user of

L-39 aircraft. At that time, the Military Aviation

College in Košice (VVLŠ SNP) provided training

for military pilots throughout Czechoslovakia.

The early series L-39C aircraft were delivered

with a white upper fuselage. The lower fuselage

and entire wings were in a gray color. The stripe

ahead of the cockpit was in cabin gray. Color

accents on the aircraft were in red. In 1978,

the aircraft with serial number 0443 was part

of the VVLŠ SNP Košice aerobatic team. After

the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the aircraft

served with the renowned Slovak aerobatic team

Biele Albatrosy (White Albatrosses). In 2012,

it underwent modernization to the CM version.

L-39C, No. 0448, 1 Tactical Squadron, 4 Special Forces, Czech Air Force,

Čáslav, Czech Republic, 2002

On April 1, 2004, a new organizational unit of LOM

PRAHA company, the Center for Aviation Training

Pardubice (CLV), was established. This unit leased

eight L-39C aircraft with serial numbers 0103,

0113, 0115, 0440, 0441, 0444, 0445, and 0448 from

the Czech Armed Forces for the advanced training

of military pilots. Since 2008, LOM PRAHA has

had these aircraft under its asset management

rights. The Center for Aviation Training LOM

October 2023

PRAHA has trained 90 proficient military pilots on

L-39C aircraft for the Czech Republic Army since

its establishment. Additionally, as per customer

requirements, 15 foreign pilots have undergone

the training. During the years 2015–2016, the

R3 revision was completed. This represented

the highest level of maintenance in the entire

technical lifespan of the modified L-39C aircraft

at the Pardubice CLV. These Albatros aircraft can

be easily recognized by their darker semi-gloss

camouflage and, most notably, by their round

“low-vis” national markings. The depicted aircraft

with serial number 0448 still bears its original

camouflage that it had while serving with the

1 Squadron of the 4 Tactical Air Base at Čáslav

Air Base.

INFO Eduard

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