New Czech L-39NG makes first flight performing development tests

The first Aero Vodochody Aerospace pre-serial L-39NG trainer and light attack aircraft made its first flight in December at Aero Vodochody Airport. The aircraft took off, climbed to 5,000 ft. and after 26 minutes successfully landed at Aero Vodochody. The maturity of the platform allowed the execution of some development tests during the flight.

Two months after the introduction, the first L-39NG proved its readiness to flight and to start certification tests. The aircraft has flown in a configuration that is representative of serial aircraft including final upgraded wet wing and air inlets. This step forward consolidates Aero’s goal to achieve type certification by the end of 2019.

“This pre-series first flight represents a significant milestone sending an important message to our customers: We can fully fulfill our commitments and we will be ready to deliver the first aircraft in the first quarter of 2020,” said Giuseppe Giordo, President & CEO of Aero Vodochody Aerospace.

Jirí Podpera, President of Omnipol, added, “As the strategic partner of the project we are very confident, that this important step will further strengthen trust of the whole aerospace community in the new aircraft and will help to make this great project very successful.”

The L-39NG is a single-engine two-seater with staggered seating and an advanced cockpit design that includes full glass cockpit, a sophisticated on-board virtual training system and a Helmet Mounted Display. The L-39NG is a key component of a training concept developed by Aero that includes ground-based training facilities, new learning methods and environment and extensive use of Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence technologies. The L-39NG has been designed as a maintenance-friendly aircraft for many decades of service.

Those capabilities enable the L-39NG to be the only available platform on the market capable of performing basic, advanced and LIFT/OCU training at the cost of a turboprop, according to Aero. “The L-39NG performed extremely well and fully met our expectations in terms of stability and controllability. The L-39NG is a completely new aircraft and I believe, it has great potential to become a perfect trainer for the 4th and 5th generation fighters as well as a light attack platform,” said David Jahoda, Aero Test Pilot.

During the 2018, Aero announced agreements with the first customers, the Republic of Senegal, private Portuguese company SkyTech and private American company RSW at Farnborough Air Show in July. Orders from those customers will secure the production of 38 aircraft. Currently, Aero is also finalizing an agreement also with domestic customer LOM Praha, the Czech state military company and pilot training provider, and carrying out promising negotiations with other potential customers.