Jet L-39 Albatros Ferry Flight from Estonia to Switzerland via Danmark FL280

Video from the channel Warbird-Aviation Switzerland by Globalplanemarket about Aero L-39 Albatros, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 37:49. Language: English. Video type: Onboard.

The video follows, from the cockpit, a ferry flight of an Aero L-39 Albatros from Estonia to Switzerland with a stopover in Denmark, according to its title, which also mentions a cruise at flight level 280. The recording captures engine start-up, the departure clearance via runway 26, and the take-offs, climbs, approaches and landings of several legs, along with communications with control and the conversation between the two crew members. One of the stopovers is Bornholm airport, in Rønne.

One of the pilots guides the other throughout the flight: he asks him to make the radio calls, tells him when to deploy the airbrakes, gear and flaps, and explains the procedures to him. During the climb he notes how true airspeed diverges from indicated airspeed. He also explains the fuel system: the gauge shows only the main tank, which is kept between 650 and 675 kilograms while fuel is transferred from the other tanks. If the needle starts to drop before about 45 minutes after take-off, the transfer has not been completed and a stop should be planned earlier. Engine temperature is also reviewed, around 520 on the gauge.

On take-off, approach flaps are used, the gear is retracted with a positive rate of climb, and the flaps once 250 is reached. On the last leg the approach is flown on instruments through a thick, wet cloud, capturing the localizer and glide path, with gear down and full flaps before landing. Each leg ends with the shutdown checklists: parking brake, lights, air conditioning, pressurization, switches and engine.

The channel belongs to a Swiss company that operates historic aircraft. The video shows the real operation of a training jet on a multi-leg international ferry flight, with the fuel planning and workload that this demands of the crew.