Aero L-39 Albatros

[scifi1972]

The Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer aircraft developed in Czechoslovakia to meet requirements for a "C-39" during the 1960s to replace the L-29 Delfin.

It was the first of the second-generation jet trainers, and the first turbofan-powered trainer produced, and was later updated as the L-59 Super Albatros and as the L-139 (prototype L-39 with engine Garrett TFE731).

The design is still produced in an evolved state as the L-159 ALCA, while more than 2,800 L-39s still serve with over 30 air forces around the world. The Albatros is versatile, seeing duty in light attack missions as well as basic and advanced pilot training, and is the most widely-used jet trainer in the world. (Wikipedia)



Click here to download the latest release for FlightGear 1.9.1 and 2.0.0 or go to the official CVS:
http://ftp.linux.kiev.ua/pub/fgfs/Aircr ... 101217.zip

I was a little surprised to find out that the L-39 wasn't already in FlightGear, despite the fact that it is the most popular jet warbird in civil service with 100+ in the U.S. alone... So I decided to fill the gap... The FDM is nearly finished. I'm currently working on the animations.


Front view in AC3D

Bottom view with gun pod

Close look on the cockpit...

The student sits in the front seat and the instructor in the rear seat.

Rear view

Details of the nose wheel

Rear view. I made fake reflections directly on the textures...

[Gijs]

Those screenshots look absolutely amazing!
If this is still WIP, I cannot even imagine how it will be when it is finished

[SkyWlf77]

That rocks! I cannot wait to add this to my FlightGear arsenal!

-Jason

[simbabeat]

Wow that looks great!

[ethan3391]

Oh I really want a real one so bad. Then again I don't even have a drivers license yet.

As far as I'm concerned this is definitely the most anticipated project on FlightGear.

[simbabeat]

As far as I'm concerned this is definitely the most anticipated project on FlightGear.

I hadn't heard anything about it before this. Interesting that you say that.

[ethan3391]

He mentioned it on his thread about the Rafale. Besides the L-39 is one of my all time favorite airplanes, and my opinions don't necessarily reflect those of the forum community. If that's what you mean.

[simbabeat]

Oh you were talking about yourself. Ok. No I mean I like this plane. I didn't really know about the history of it until I looked it up today.

[ethan3391]

I've looked it up many times in the past. It's a neat little airplane.

[scifi1972]

Thanks for your comments.

If you have access to any kind of documentation about the L-39 (manuals, procedures, instruments description, detailed cockpit pictures...) please don't hesitate to send me the links.
If those materials are copyrighted and must not be diffused on this forum, just send me a private message so we can see how to share the information.

It's also difficult to find night photos of the aircraft. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the landing lights are placed at the front of the external tanks. Could you confirm?

Thanks in advance!

[ethan3391]

Thanks for your comments.

If you have access to any kind of documentation about the L-39 (manuals, procedures, instruments description, detailed cockpit pictures...) please don't hesitate to send me the links.
If those materials are copyrighted and must not be diffused on this forum, just send me a private message so we can see how to share the information.

I have found a pair of manuals, but they're in Russian, and I'm told a few pages are missing. If you .you want 'em I've got 'em. Just let me know, and I'll zip them up and send them to you.

I was under the impression that you knew that l39.com has apu start information, and a product brochure under files. There is also a website that I stumbled onto in one of my searches.

It's also difficult to find night photos of the aircraft. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the landing lights are placed at the front of the external tanks. Could you confirm?

Confirmed. In the aforementioned website, specifically here, there are many 3-views (including one I used to start, and never finish, a 3d model), and cut away drawings of the l-39. Including one of the fuel tank locations on the L-39C, which shouldn't be to different from the ZA. One of these cut aways shows a decent view of the front edge of the wing tip tank, and even though it isn't a close up view, I don't know of anything other than a light that looks like that. Furthermore there doesn't seem to be any other light locations on the forward fuselage or wings, and definitely not the landing gear.

Thanks in advance!

My pleasure.

BTW I'm going to be looking for another language version of the manuals, that won't cost me any money, if I find any I'll let you know.

[pyromcr]

looks nice looks nice...

[ethan3391]

I forgot to mention the video section. The default video in that section has a pretty clean sound clip from start up through taxi and takeoff.

[EDIT] I forgot something else. He has a soundbite, for start up, in the downloads section. I couldn't get it to download but maybe someone who knows Czech can get in contact with him and get both permission, and access to the sounds file. It's in mp3 format.

I hope I covered everything this time.

[scifi1972]

Thanks for your answer ethan3391. You are definitively THE L-39 specialist on this forum!

If the manuals are too big to be sent by email, just drop me a line and I will give you access to my FTP server.
I have effectively found some extracts of the manuals on www.l39.com, especially the warning systems.

Meanwhile, I will try to contact the webmaster at www.l-39.cz for the sounds files.

Bye

[ethan3391]

I might better use the ftp. The files are about 53mb zipped, and I can't find your email address, furthermore, I don't think the forum email supports attachments anyways. Just pm me whatever information I need to know, and I'll get it uploaded for you.

Also I didn't notice before but the files are the same manual just different parts. It seems to be the main flight manual.