Aero L-39 Albatros L-39 Skyfox (L-39NG)

The L-39NG was born of an uncomfortable fact for Aero Vodochody: the limited success of the L-159 ALCA had left the company without a product able to contest the advanced training market against types such as the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 and the British Aerospace Hawk. The answer, announced at the Farnborough Airshow in July 2014, was to go back to the Albatros and modernise it thoroughly rather than design an entirely new aircraft.

The changes are substantial. The Soviet AI-25 turbofan gives way to a Western Williams FJ44, the airframe is modified — the characteristic wingtip tanks disappear, among other things — the fuel system is rebuilt and the aircraft receives a new avionics suite. The programme was framed from the start along two parallel tracks: newly built aircraft and extensive rebuilds of existing airframes, a formula aimed at operators already flying the Albatros. Introduction was planned for 2018.

In 2023 production resumed under the name Skyfox, with 34 aircraft on order. With it, the line opened by the first prototype in 1968 passes the half-century mark and makes the Albatros one of the longest-selling jet trainers in history.