Aero Vodochody to Announce First Customer for L-39NG Trainer at Paris Air Show

Aero Vodochody today said that it would name the first customers for its L-39NG two seater air force trainer aircraft at the Paris Air Show next week.

While it is not clear who the customer or customers are, the Czech aircraft maker has been negotiating with the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to sell replacements for its older generation Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros jet trainers.

An Aero Vodochody release has described the L-39NG is an "ideal solution for modern air forces requiring highly efficient training at acceptable conditions". Unlike high performance trainers which can cover only part of the training curriculum, the L-39NG has been designed from the ground up to provide comprehensive pilot preparation, from basic training up to Lead-In-Fighter-Training.

The L-39NG jet trainer has operating costs considerably lower than the current generation of trainers while providing a considerably higher utility value, the release said.