First flight of the Aero L-39 Albatros

On 4 November 1968 the X02 prototype of the Aero L-39 Albatros, a training jet designed in Czechoslovakia by Aero Vodochody, made its first flight with Rudolf Duchoň at the controls. The chief designer, Jan Vlček, combined classic construction methods with new technical solutions in the project.

The high-mounted air intakes, protected wing, and covered landing gear bays allowed it to operate from unpaved runways. It carried the VS-1 BRI, the first Czechoslovak ejection seat, which made the country one of only five in the world to master that technique for jets.

Almost 3,000 units were built for the air forces of dozens of countries. It became the most widely used training jet in the world, trained thousands of military pilots, and was also used as a light combat aircraft. Several remain in service, and its lineage continues in the L-39NG.