KITS 10/2023

L-39C, s/n 533229, No. 129, Ukrainian Air Force, Vasilkov AB, Ukraine, 2008

After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, around

530 L-39 aircraft remained in Ukraine according

to several sources. The poor financial situation

of the entire military significantly reduced their

number, and by 2005, fewer than 200 aircraft

were airworthy. The rest of the Albatroses is in

storage and available for potential sales.

L-39X-11, Aerosalon Paris, France, 1977

The prototype L-39X-11 (L-39ZO, OK-HXA, 3911,

OK-190) was adorned with a white-gray-blue

camouflage and shortly thereafter exhibited

(equipped as ZO version) at the Paris Air Show,

where it earned the nickname “Pařížanka”

October 2023

(Parisienne) due to its non-standard coloring.

Aircraft from Aero participated multiple times

at the prestigious European airshow held at

Le Bourget near Paris since 1977, but the first

international presentation of the Albatros was

certainly exceptional. In Paris, it was displayed

with a photo container on the left inner pylon along

with a symmetrical placement of a large (350-liter)

drop tank, thus showcasing the aircraft’s expanded

usage – this time for aerial reconnaissance.

INFO Eduard

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