Representatives of Aero Vodochody a.s. and the Czech Armed Forces signed a Performance Contract for repair and modernization of one L 39C aircraft in late June, 1999. The Performance Contract for repairing and modernization of additional 7 L 39C´s was signed subsequently in November, 1999.
Aero Vodochody a.s. is contractually committed to ensure and execute general overhauls and modernization of Czech Armed Force's L 39C aircraft from 1. 4. series manufactured in 1974. The repairs consist of disassembly of front fuselage components, assembly and delivery of new front fuselage parts, a new completely equipped wing, and new fuselage aft part, delivery and building up of system parts, aggregates, and instruments enhanced from those of 53. series components. The extensive upgrades come at the end of structural technical life of the aircraft owned by the Czech Armed Forces and customer required modernization.
A six months time to completion of each modernization was agreed. Aero Vodochody a.s. announced that the first aircraft, No. 0113 was accepted by the Czech Armed Forces representatives on the 15th of December 1999 i. e. 14 days before ahead of schedule and the aircraft was flown by Col. Frantisek Hlavnicka, and Lieut.-Col. Ludek Belsky, Czech Air Forces pilots, to Caslav base on the 16th December, 1999.
The subject aircraft is painted in the new camouflage similar to the L 159. Aero Vodochody a.s. plans to deliver the remaining 7 aircraft incrementally by the end of March 2000, i. e. 1,5 month ahead of contract's term.The repairs and modernization extends the structural technical life of the aircraft by 4,500 flying hours or 25 years.
