KITS 10/2023

L-39ZA/ART, s/n 365504, Chiang Mai AB, Royal Thai Air Force,

Thailand, 2014

The Royal Thai Air Force operated L-39ZA/

ART aircraft at two airbases. The majority of

them were stationed at Korat Air Base in the

central part of Thailand, which serves as an

RTAF showcase, hosting foreign delegations

and conducting joint exercises with neighboring

countries. The second base was Takhli, located

about 200 km to the west, where the aircraft

were used for operational flights. The L-39ZA

aircraft were initially used by the 101 and 102

Squadrons in Korat, then by the 401 Squadron in

Thakli, and the 411 Squadron in Chiang Mai. The

RTAF received a total of 40 L-39 aircraft by 1994,

with about five lost in accidents. On the occasion

of anniversaries, some aircraft were presented

in special liveries featuring emblems of all four

squadrons. On March 31, 2021, the Royal Thai Air

Force held the ceremony on the occasion of the

Aero L-39ZA/ART retirement from the active duty.

The last operator was the 411th Squadron, 41st

Wing, based in Chiang Mai.

L-39ZO, s/n 831135, Lt. Laszló Goron, 59th Szentgyörgyi Dezsö Airbase,

Kecskemet, Hungary, August 2007

On the request of foreign clients, the L-39C was

developed into the L-39ZO between 1973 and

1976. Among other modifications, the ZO version

was given four wing pylons with a strengthened

structure and landing gear. In 1994 Hungary

received 24 aircraft from Germany for the

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L-39

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symbolic price of one DM. The last of these aircraft

retired in the fall of 2009. Aircraft coded 135 was

camouflaged on the upper and side surfaces in

shades of brown and green while the undersides

were in light blue. In 2007, under the guidance

of Crew Chief MSgt. Lajos Molnar, the aircraft

acquired an attractive sharkmouth design and

the vertical tail surfaces received the Hungarian

national colors. The airfield from which this

aircraft flew was named after Dezső Szentgyörgyi,

the most successful Second World War Hungarian

pilot with twenty-nine confirmed kills.

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L-39 PE-Set

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October 2023