Serial production of four L-39NG (Next Generation) subsonic training aircraft for the state-owned enterprise LOM Prague was launched yesterday at Aero Vodochody. The first two aircraft will be produced at the end of 2024, the other two in 2025.
They will be used to train Czech military pilots and thus replace the existing L-39C Albatross, which are ending their technical life. In the production hall of the Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody, this was confirmed by the director of the state-owned enterprise LOM Praha, Jiří Protiva, and the president of Aero Vodochody, Viktor Sotona.
"It is crucial for us that by purchasing L-39NG aircraft, we will ensure the continuity of tactical air force pilot training on Albatros L-39C subsonic jet machines. The platform is not changing, we are staying with the L-39, which has proven itself very well in the Czech army," stated Jiří Protiva, adding that the Czech aircraft will continue to be used for the training of pilots of the Czech army and foreign military pilots, which is a unique national capability in networking aircraft production and training capacities.
The first "Lomacé engéčko" with the number 7029
The existing L-39C aircraft, which have been operated by the LOM Prague Flight Training Center for nineteen years, are ending their technical life.
"The first "Lomácké engéčko", the first part of which we could see today, will have the number 7029. Of course, the visualization of the spraying of these Czech training aircraft is already ready, and I am very much looking forward to the ceremonial unveiling at the end of 2024," stated the director of Protiva.
LOM Praha and Aero Vodochody signed a contract for the delivery of four new L-39NG subsonic aircraft for basic and advanced pilot training of the Army of the Czech Republic in November last year. It includes, among other things, initial training of pilots and ground personnel, special and high-altitude equipment, ground equipment, including an initial set of spare parts, as well as post-warranty support for this new training platform. According to the contract, the first training aircraft will be delivered no later than 28 months after the start of the contract.
For Aero Vodochody, the contract for Czech military pilots is a prestigious matter
The president of Aero Vodochody, Viktor Sotona, emphasized that for Aero, the supply of airplanes for Czech pilots is not only a priority, but also an important order that opens the way to other possible foreign customers. "The order for the Czech state company is not only an extremely important reference, but at the same time it allows us to collect very valuable information from operations at the domestic customer," emphasized Sotona, adding that the workers on the production line of the newly developed subsonic jet L-39 NG (Next Generation) are currently in full deployment and over eight dozen of them are working on the new generation of the legendary Albatros training aircraft.
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