List of Aero L-39 Albatros operators explained

This is a list of countries and their air force units that have operated the Aero L-39 Albatros.

Military operators

Current

Abkhazia

Abkhazian Air Force

Algeria

Algerian Air Force

Armenia

Armenian Air Force

Angola

National Air Force of Angola

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Air Force

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Air Force

Belarus

Belarus Air Force

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Air Force

Central African Republic

Central African Republic Air Force

Cuba

Cuban Air Forceoperating 26 L-39C aircraft in three squadrons:

Egypt

Egyptian Air Force

Equatorial Guinea

Armed Forces of Equatorial Guinea

Estonia

Estonian Air Force

Ethiopia

Ethiopian Air Force

Georgia

Georgian Air Force

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Air Force

Libya

Libyan Air Force

Mali

Malian Air Force

Mozambique

Mozambique Air Force

Nigeria

Nigerian Air Force

Nicaragua

Nicaraguan Air Forces

Russia

Russian Air Force

Senegal

Senegalese Air Force

Slovakia

Slovak Air Force

Syria

Syrian Air Force

Tajikistan

Tajik Air Force

Tunisia

Tunisia Air Force

Uganda

Ugandan Air Force

Ukraine

Ukrainian Air Force

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan Air Force

Vietnam

Vietnamese Air Force

Yemen

Yemen Air Force

Former

Afghanistan

Afghan Air Force
  • The Afghan Air Force operated as many as 26 L-39Cs from 1977 through 2001, but only three of them survived in 2001. In December 2021, a report by Al Jazeera showed an Afghan L-39 undergoing an engine test at Kabul International Airport.[7]

    Cambodia

    Royal Cambodian Air Force

    Chad

    Military of Chad

    Republic of the Congo

    Congolese Air Force

    Czech Republic

    Czech Air Force

    Czechoslovakia

    Czechoslovakian Air Force

    Two Czechoslovakian AF L-39Vs were delivered to the East German Air Force.[9]

    All Czechoslovakian Air Force aircraft passed to successor states – Czech Republic and Slovakia.

    East Germany

    East German Air Force

    Ghana

    Ghana Air Force

    Hungary

    Hungarian Air Force

    Iraq

    Iraqi Air Force

    Kyrgyzstan

    Kyrgyzstan Air Force

    Lithuania

    Lithuanian Air Force

    Romania

    Romanian Air Force

    South Sudan

    South Sudan Air Force

    Soviet Union

    DOSAAF
  • Soviet Air Force
  • All Soviet Air Force aircraft passed to successor states: Azerbaijan,the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

    Thailand

    Royal Thai Air Force

    Turkmenistan

    Turkmenistan Air Force

    Civil operators

    Australia

    A small number of L-39s are flown in Australia as jet flight experiences for paying public.

    Austria

    [11]

    Canada

    International Test Pilots School[12]

    Northern Lights Aerobatics Team from Montreal used 2 L-39C in 2000, but ceased operating them and performing airshows after 2000.[13] The aircraft were registered and based in the US with Northern Lights USA of Lafayette, LA with 1 lost in crash in 2001.

    France

    Breitling Jet Team
  • A civilian aerobatic display team based in Dijon, France; operating seven L-39 Albatros jets in the colours of their sponsor, Breitling.
    TopGun Voltige
  • This company based in La Roche-sur-Yon operates 2 L-39 Albatros jets for touristic flights.[14]

    New Zealand

    Fighter Jets NZ operate 2 L-39 from Tauranga, NZ for jet flight experiences and also do airshow displays around the country.

    Soviet Union

    DOSAAF
  • DOSAAF paramilitary organization, tasked with the training and preparation of reserves for the Soviet armed forces, operated unknown number of L-39.

    United States

    Hundreds of L-39s are finding new homes with private owners all over the world, especially in the United States.

    See also

    References

    Bibliography

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: World Air Forces 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210110064115/https://www.flightglobal.com/reports/world-air-forces-2021/141456.article. 10 Jan 2021. 7 March 2021. flightglobal.com.
    2. Web site: Report . Star . 2012-04-09 . Training aircraft crashes . 2023-10-02 . The Daily Star . en.
    3. News: Russia increasing material potential of Central African national army by supplying fighter jets – Manuel Nguema . 4 June 2023 . Daily Post . 23 May 2023.
    4. Web site: Martin . Guy . Mali commissions new aircraft . defenceWeb . 10 August 2022.
    5. Web site: Lagneau . Laurent . Le Mali a reçu au moins quatre avions d'attaque légers L-39C Albatross, probablement livrés par la Russie . opex360.com . 9 August 2022.
    6. Isby. David C.. Willis. David. Mozambique Rebuilding its Air Force. Air International. December 2013. 85. 6. 26. 0306-5634.
    7. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Oliemans . Joost . Taliban Air Force Commences Jet Operations . Oryx Blog . 31 December 2021.
    8. Web site: Czech arms to be purchased - Khmer Times. 15 October 2019.
    9. http://www.scramble.nl/wiki/index.php?title=Aero_L-39_Albatros Aero L-39 Albatros page in Scramble magazine
    10. Web site: Binnie. Jeremy. South Sudan now flying L-39 jets. IHS Jane's 360. 12 September 2016. London. 12 September 2016.
    11. Web site: L-39 users from all over the world met in AERO Vodochody. September 15, 2016.
    12. Web site: Aircraft – ITPS Canada. 2020-10-09.
    13. Web site: Pure Jet Experience - Wings Magazine . 2011-01-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120307112724/http://www.wingsmagazine.com/content/view/760/38/ . 2012-03-07 . dead .
    14. Web site: TopGun Voltige.