At the Slovakian airshow SIAF-2021, we were able to talk to the chief designer of the Czech jet trainer Aero L-39NG about the new edition of the Albatros. It became clear that Aero is expecting new customers in Austria’s eastern neighborhood soon and still has the domestic air force on its radar.
Mr. Lang, Aero announced the L-39NG in Farnborough in 2014 and has been continuously developing it ever since. How much Albatros is still in the new L-39NG?
We kept the central fuselage, but slimmed it down by 40 centimetres and shortened it by 30 centimetres. We also kept the wing profile, but replaced the 100-liter tanks at the ends with 700-liter integral wing tanks. The tail unit comes from the JaBo version of the L-159, while the front fuselage is new, with more volume and a large cockpit canopy. The most significant difference, apart from the 180 kilogram reduction in empty weight, is the new, much lighter, smaller and more fuel-efficient Williams 44 engine. In addition, the L-39NG, together with the main tank in the fuselage, has a significantly larger tank volume, which has enabled us to at least double the flight duration compared to the past.
Production is said to have started in the meantime. But the first customer is no longer Senegal, is it?
That is correct. Production is underway and, in principle, there is a contract for six machines for Senegal. However, this is currently on hold for national reasons. But we now have another initial customer in Asia.
Are you referring to Vietnam?
We don’t name customers if that’s what they want. But what is remarkable in this respect is that we have successfully “westernized” a former “East German aircraft” – and now that customer wants all the documentation in Russian (laughs).
Another alleged interested party is the UAE aerobatics team, the “Al Fursan” currently flying MB.339. What’s the story here?
In any case, the UAE team visited us some time ago and their leader has already flown the NG. They would now also have to do this in a formation and then tests would also have to be carried out in extreme heat.
You also have an armed light combat aircraft version in your concept. Is an on-board radar planned?
The armament is structurally prepared, only the relevant cabling and the weapon control unit are missing. However, we do not currently have plans for our own on-board radar, but it is of course possible to display one – also in the trainer – as part of our virtual simulation concept in the aircraft and with a data link. There is interest in LCA from Slovakia and Hungary, for example. We have not yet given up on Austria either. We believe that we would be able to provide the training abroad on our aircraft, which is reported to be very expensive, at a much lower cost.
Here for more news about Aero Vodochody and here to the other articles in our “5 questions to” series.
