Vietnamese Air Force becomes first user of L-39NG
Aero Vodochody and its shareholder Omnipol have successfully delivered the first six L-39NG aircraft to the Air Force of Vietnam, the type’s inaugural customer, building on a contract first signed in 2021.
“The final step of handing over the aircraft, the so-called SAT [Site Acceptance Test], takes place directly at the customer and is directed by a joint team of approximately ten specialists from Aero and Omnipol,” explained CEO and chairman of Aero’s board of director’s Viktor Sotona. “Our aircraft can now fully serve as a training platform for fighter pilots and at the same time as a tactical platform fulfilling a wide range of missions for the Vietnamese Air Force”.
The Vietnamese Air Force has also received what Aero describes as “an appropriate set of theoretical and practical training for the finished L-39NG aircraft, which also includes a simulation training system or manuals for pilots and mechanics”.
The latest iteration in the Czech manufacturer’s family of L-39 Albatros aircraft (used in the military training and light combat roles), development of the L-39NG began in 2014. Split into two stages (offering upgrades of existing L-39s or new-build aircraft), the redeveloped airframe includes modifications such as a wet wing (eliminating the original wingtip fuel tanks) and a FJ44-4M turbofan engine from partner Williams International.
Aero estimates the assembly of one L-39NG to require around 14,000 parts, 17,500 rivets and 31,000 hours of labour, with around 65% of the suppliers coming from the Czech Republic.
