EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019: Warbirds - L-29 and L-39 Trainers

The Aero Experience continues our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019, sponsored by Elite Aviation, with this look at two familiar jet trainer types from behind the Iron Curtain. Aero Vodochody, the Czech aerospace firm, produced the L-29 Delfin basic/intermediate jet trainer in the 1960s-70s for the Soviet, eastern bloc and middle eastern air forces. The follow-on advanced trainer, the L-39 Albatros, introduced in the early 1970s, developed into a combined basic/advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft to replace the L-29 series. It has found a wide military and civilian customer base since the fall of the Soviet Union, and the type has evolved into the L-59 Super Albaros  and L-159 ALCA light attack aircraft. Here we feature an L-29 and a variety of L-39 jets as seen throughout the week.

Aero L-29 Delfin:

Aero L-39 Albatros:

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018: Warbirds - Jets

By Fred Harl

The Aero Experience winds up our mini-series on EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 warbirds with this look at jet warbirds used by military services from the 1940s to the 1980s. The first jet, a Gloster Meteor T7 from the Warbird Heritage Air Museum, is one of 640 trainers delivered between 1949 and 1954 to British and Allied forces. The Meteor entered service in late 1944 and nearly 4,000 were produced by 1954. The type served with various air forces for over 30 years. Also featured here are the legendary Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star jet trainer, the North American F-86 Sabre and its Navy stablemate FJ-4 Fury, the Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter and the familiar Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros.