Aviation Museum in Kbely expanded their collection by L-39ZA
The permanent collection of the Aviation Museum located in “Old Aerovka” in Letňany was expanded on 4 December 2019 by one Aero L-39ZA MSN 2421 jet plane. After 36 years of operation, the aircraft was discarded from the Czech Air Force inventory, followed by a decision to relocate the plane to Prague Letňany.
GLOMEX Military Supplies took care of the transport for a symbolic price. The plane was disassembled in Čáslav airport, the parts were then put inside transport crates and taken by truck to the final destination for their re-assembly the very next day.
Big thanks go to all involved: Aero Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s., 21st Tactical Air Force Base in Čáslav, Advanced ROAD, s.r.o. and the Military History Institute.
Aero L-39ZA MNS 2421 started its service in February 1983 at the 30th Fighter Bomber Aviation Regiment, later it flew at the 1st Fighter Air Regiment, 41st Fighter Squadron, 221st Tactical Squadron and finally at the 213rd Training Squadron in Čáslav, until termination of the fleet in 2019.
Technical Description
L-39ZA is a two-seater low-wing jet of a metal semi-monocoque structure.
The fuselage consists of three parts. The front one includes radio equipment, a pressurized crew cabin and a fuel tank (1100 l). The AI-25TL engine is located in the middle part. The rear part with the stabilizers and elevators is detachable for engine de/mounting.
The wing is straight, continuous and trapezoidal in shape. Each wing-tip fuel tank has capacity of 150 l. The wing is equipped with double-slot flaps. There are two air brakes located on the wing underside that automatically extend when Mach number of 0.78 is exceeded.
No hydraulic boosters are used in flight controls; trimming is electrically driven.
Three-point nose type landing gear is retractable. The main wheels are braked with anti-skid system.
The plane is powered by the AI-25TL engine, which is started by the Saphir-5 APU.
A hydraulic system is used to control flaps, air brakes, wheel brakes and backup ram air turbine.
The electrical system is DC 28 V; the main source is a generator powered by the engine; the backup source is a generator driven by ram air turbine automatically extended to below fuselage when the main generator is off. Two 115 V inverters and two 36 V inverters are used to power other systems.
The plane is equipped with ejection seats VS-1BRI of a Czechoslovak design. These allow rescue from zero altitude at a minimum speed of 150 km per hour.
Technical data:
Crew: 2 (instructor-pilot and student-pilot)
Length: 12.13 m
Wingspan: 9.46 m
Height: 4.77 m
Wing surface: 18,8 sq. m
Empty weight: 3 459 kg
Maximum take-off weight: 4 700 kg
Powerplant: One dual-jet Progress / Ivchenko AI-25TL engine
Engine thrust: 16.9 kN
Performance
Maximum speed: 750 km per hour at 5,000 m
Range: 1,100 km at 5,000 m, 1,750 km with additional tanks
Ceiling: 11,500 m
Take-off distance: 480 m
Landing distance: 600 m
Armament
Up to 284 kg of weaponry on two external pylons under wing
Two auxiliary tanks attachable to other pylons under wing
