L-39C  Albatross "b aHdyt"(or if read properly "Red Bandit")

Specifications:

Armament: 

Up to 2,425 lbs. of weapons, including bombs, gun pods, and a single five-camera reconnaissance pack. 

Engine:

Ukranian 1720 kg. thrust Walter Titan turbofan. 

L-39 General Information:  The L-39 is a tandem seat basic and advanced trainer, weapons trainer and light ground attack aircraft built in Czechoslovakia.  It is a very nice flying and inherently safe aircraft with a well thought out design.  It is easy to fly safely.  To our knowledge, none of the US L-39 accidents that have begun to give this aircraft a bad name with the FAA and the insurance industry have been attributed to aircraft malfunctions or flight characteristics.  While the max speed is about 485 mph, it is mechanically limited by automatic deployment of the speed brakes at 0.8 Mach.

Our L-39:  Built in 1991, this L-39 served in Kazakstan and imported to the US and restored/upgraded by Pride Aircraft. It reflects one of the Russian Air Force's air-to-air paint schemes that is also used by the US aggressor squadrons to simulate "Red Bandits".  Cockpit has been highly upgraded to the latest US avionics.  The "68" on the side was chosen to commemorate the Apollo 8 flight in 1968.

Bill on Lud Corrao's wing over Carson flying "Red Bandit."  Photo by John French.

On the Pride Aviation ramp prior to delivery.  Paint scheme is latest Russian Air to Air colors.