The Aero L39NG is a military turbofan training aircraft. The aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody Is the largest aerospace company in the Czech Republic. The L39NG is the successor of the cold war era, L39 Albatros. The aircraft features a new glass cockpit and brand new sensors and other equipment. It’ll cost $2,500 to run per hour.
Current purchases:
The Breitling Jet Team, Draken International and Czech state firm LOM Praha will together order around 20 upgrades to the newer jet.
The L39NG Comes in 2 stages
Stage one - is an upgrade of the original L-39 airframe with a new engine and avionics
Stage two - A newly-built aircraft with several design improvements such as the wet wing without the type’s distinctive wingtip fuel tanks.
Production has started this year with airforce’s receiving their orders
Engines:
Stage one & Stage two will both use the same engine
The Williams International FJ44-4M turbofan
Stage Two General Characteristics:
Crew: 2
Length: 12.03 m (39 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 9.56 m (31 ft 4 in)
Height: Unknown
Empty weight: 3,100 kg (6,835 lb)
Max. Takeoff weight: 5,800 kg (13,230 lb)
Powerplant: 1x Williams International FJ44-4M turbofan, 16.89 kN (3,790 lbst)
Stage 2 Performance
Maximum Speed: 775 km/h (420 KTAS) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
Range: 2,590 km (1,400Nm) (Internal Fuel Tank)
Endurance: 4 hr 30 min (internal fuel)
Service Ceiling: 11,500 m (38,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 23 m/s (4,500 ft/min)
Armament
- Up to 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) of stores including unguided rockets, bombs, gun pods and recce pods on five external hardpoints or 570 kg (1,250 lb) of external fuel on two “wet” hardpoints
Why add the L39NG?
The L39NG is the perfect little trainer jet and is an easier aircraft to learn to fly before stepping into an F22, F18 or any of the others. Many stunt teams also use this jet so it would make perfect for VA display teams and GAF would benefit with this jet. It’s a fighter jet but not a crazy fighter jet.