The PZL I-22 Iryda , otherwise known as the PZL M93 Iryda and PZL M96 Iryda , was a twin-engine, two-seat military jet trainer aircraft developed and produced by Polish aviation company PZL Mielec .
90-611: Work started on what would become the Iryda in 1976 as a successor to the indigenously-developed TS-11 Iskra jet trainer. First flying on 3 March 1985, the type would have a protracted development, partly due to the initial unavailability of its PZL K-15 turbojet engines. The Polish Air Force received the first K-15-powered Irydras in May 1995. However, aircraft deliveries were complicated by disputes over cost and performance, leading to multiple announcements, policy reversals, and groundings of
180-580: A Strela-2 MANPADS fired by Doku Zavgayev 's pro-Russian militia. The pilot, Col. Ali Musayev and the co-pilot Dedal Dadayev were killed. One of the main reasons that prompted the first Su-25 air raids that destroyed the Chechen air force on the ground, and started the Russian intervention , was preparations being made by Dudayev's air force, which had been spotted by reconnaissance Sukhoi Su-24 MRs. There were fears that these aircraft could slow or deter
270-403: A 70-gallon fuel tank. Additional fuel tanks can be fitted in the rear cockpit position and externally underneath the wings; the tip-tanks can also be expanded for a greater fuel capacity. The aircraft is fitted with a hydraulically actuated retractable nosewheel undercarriage that is designed to allow operation from grass airfields. The main landing gear legs retract inward into wing bays while
360-589: A Polish copy of the Viper engine, designated as the WSK HO-10 . The flight test program that the three prototypes were subjected to had both demonstrated the capabilities of the new aircraft and its suitability for satisfying the Polish Air Force's stated requirements for a trainer jet; as such, it was soon accepted by the Polish Air Force. During 1963, the first production model of the type, designated as
450-830: A considerable number of L-39 trainers, having transferred the bulk of their training activities onto the Czechoslovak aircraft. During the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, on 14 April 2003, a pair of United States Navy McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets attacked several L-29 and L-39 aircraft on the ground at an airfield near the city of Tikrit ; these had been believed to have been modified to perform as delivery platforms for weapons. Libya acquired some 180 L-39ZOs around 1978, which served at Sabha and Okba Ben Nafi flying schools along with Yugoslav-made G-2 Galeb for advanced jet training and Italian-made SF.260s (for primary training). The L-39s were deployed during
540-574: A costly SAGEM-sourced avionics suite. During January 1996, funding was redirected by the Polish Government to support the Iryda programme; this was to not only to acquire additional aircraft but to finance upgrades to both the avionics and the engines. The prior month's decision to terminate the programme's backing had reportedly been overruled by Prime Minister Jozef Oleksy . According to aerospace industry periodical Flight International , Polish Air Force officials at one point were claiming
630-410: A double-taper planform, 2½-deg dihedral from the roots, a relatively low aspect ratio , and 100 litres (26 US gal; 22 imp gal) fuel tanks permanently attached to the wingtips . The trailing edge has double-slotted trailing edge flaps inboard of mass-balanced ailerons ; the flaps are separated from the ailerons by small wing fences. An automatic trimming system was present,
720-486: A drone being brought down by a heat-seeking missile fired from a MiG-29 . A UN investigation also concluded that the footage was authentic and that the drone was shot down by a Russian MiG-29 using a Vympel R-73 heat seeking missile. The Taliban Air Force had managed to obtain around five L-39C aircraft from the remnants of the former Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Air Force ; with foreign technical support and pilots, these were placed into combat operations during
810-606: A fast, agile personal jet. Their popularity led to a purely L-39 Jet class being introduced at the Reno Air Races in 2002, though it has since been expanded to include other, similar aircraft. In September 2012, there were 255 L-39s registered with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and four registered with Transport Canada . Several display teams use the L-39 such as the Patriots Jet Team (6 L-39s),
900-477: A follow-on order in the coming year, as well as for a modified maritime reconnaissance/strike version that were envisioned to replace the Polish Navy's fleet of MiG-21bis fighters. In June 1997, an Iryda flew for the first time with both the upgraded avionics package and the aerodynamic improvements. Full-scale flight testing of the upgraded aircraft was reportedly set to commence during August of that year; it
990-495: A new design project to meet the specified requirements for a "C-39" (C for cvičný – trainer), setting up a design team under the leadership of Jan Vlček [ cs ] . This aircraft was to serve as a replacement for the Aero L-29 Delfín , an early jet-powered trainer, as a principal training aircraft. Vlcek envisioned the type, a twin-seat single-engine aircraft, being adopted as the primary trainer throughout
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#17327919609921080-546: A part of efforts to preserve Poland's ability to independently develop aircraft in an era of political and economic subservience to the neighbouring Soviet Union , during the 1950s, Polish engineers at the Poland's Aviation Institute (IL) commenced early work upon the design of what would become the first jet aircraft to be developed in Poland. Following the death of Joseph Stalin , work on the initiative could be performed more openly and government officials became supportive of such
1170-563: A range of countries across the world both as a trainer and a light-attack aircraft. Since the 1990s, it has also become popular among civilian operators. By the end of the century, in excess of 2,800 L-39s had served with over 30 air forces. Several derivatives of the L-39 Albatros were developed. During the 1980s, Aero Vodochody used it as the basis for the L-59 Super Albatros , an enlarged and updated model. Furthermore,
1260-584: A result of this decision, Poland became the only Warsaw Pact member to adopt the Iskra while most others adopting the rival Delfin instead. During 1975, an initial batch of 50 Iskra bis D trainer aircraft were exported to India , the type's sole export customer; during the 1990s, a further 26 aircraft were delivered to the Indian Air Force . During its Indian service, a total of seven aircraft were reportedly lost, killing four crew. During December 2004,
1350-417: A total of four underwing hardpoints that were compatible with a variety of different weapons, including bombs and rockets . Most models of the aircraft lack a radar set; however, the specialised TS-11R reconnaissance variant is provided with such equipment. The TS-11 can also be outfitted with various cameras for the purpose of performing aerial photography missions. Poland is currently developing
1440-401: A venture. The fledgling design was heavily influenced by the requirements specified by the Polish Air Force, who had formalised a requirement for a jet-propelled aircraft for training purposes. On 5 February 1960, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight , powered by an imported British Armstrong Siddeley Viper turbojet engine. During 1963, deliveries of the first production model of
1530-432: Is a Polish jet trainer , developed and manufactured by aircraft company PZL-Mielec . It was used by the air forces of Poland and India . It is notable as being the first domestically developed jet aircraft to be produced by Poland, its service for over 50 years as the principal training aircraft of the Polish Air Force, and at the time of its retirement was the oldest jet-propelled aircraft still in service in Poland. As
1620-553: Is a high-performance jet trainer designed and produced by Aero Vodochody in the Czech Republic . In addition to performing basic and advanced pilot training, it has also flown combat missions in a light-attack role. Unusually, the aircraft never received a NATO reporting name . The L-39 Albatros was designed during the 1960s as a successor to the Aero L-29 Delfín , an early jet-powered principal training aircraft. Performing its maiden flight on 4 November 1968, it became
1710-507: Is accommodated within the main fuselage, its exhaust is located beneath the boom-mounted tail fin, which provides the aircraft with a fairly unusual silhouette. Both of the crew, typically being the student in the front and instructor in the back, are provided with ejector seats for emergency egress. Some models of the TS-11 can be armed; armaments have consisted of a single nose-mounted Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannon with 80 rounds, along with
1800-564: The Battle of Aleppo , launching several strikes upon rebel-held positions. It has been claimed the L-39 was the first fixed-wing aircraft to be employed against the rebels. In February 2013, insurgents successfully captured a number of intact L-39s, along with their support equipment, after raiding and later taking over the Al-Jarrah airbase. In late 2013, reports emerged of claims by Islamist fighters that they had successfully flown two of
1890-720: The Breitling Jet Team (7 L-39s) and the Black Diamond Jet Team (5 L-39s). There are also several L-39s that have been made available for private jet rides by various operators in Australia, Czech Republic , France , Germany , Spain and the US. These L-39s are mostly in private hands, but some also belong to government agencies, such as those in Vyazma , Russia . In March 2018 there were five L-39s on
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#17327919609921980-806: The Chadian-Libyan conflict , mainly to Ouadi Doum air base. During the final Chadian offensive in March 1987, the Chadians captured Ouadi Doum along with several aircraft (11 L-39s included) and Soviet SAM systems and tanks. A Chadian report to the UN , reported the aforementioned capture on 11 L-39s and the destruction (or downing) of at least four of them. In the midst of that conflict, on 21 April 1983, three LARAF Ilyushin Il-76 TDs and one Lockheed C-130 Hercules landed at Manaus Airport , Brazil after one of
2070-779: The First Nagorno-Karabakh War in the 1980s and early 1990s. A number of these were reportedly shot down by air defenses employed by the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army . In September 2015, Aero Vodochody sought a large order for the latest model of the L-39 to Azerbaijan; by this point, Azerbaijan had a total of 24 airworthy L-39s remaining in service. The newly de facto independent Chechen Republic of Ichkeria found itself with dozens of L-39s (as well as several L-29s, three MiG-17s, two MiG-15UTIs, helicopters and other transport and civilian aircraft) left at Khankala and Kalinovskaya airbases by
2160-582: The Mikoyan MiG-29 . The cockpit is partially pressurized, requiring the air crew to wear oxygen masks when flying in excess of 23,000 feet. A gyro gunsight for weapon-aiming purposes is typically present in the forward position only. A single turbofan engine , an Ivchenko AI-25 TL (made in the Soviet Union ) is positioned in the rear fuselage, fed through shoulder-mounted, semi-circular air intakes (fitted with splitter plates ) just behind
2250-497: The Polish Navy had also sought new trainer aircraft at this time. On 1 December 1995, the Polish Government announced that the Polish Air Force would purchase no further aircraft due to it being too costly to continue. The Iryda's chief designer, Marek Potapowicz, openly stated that the programme's loss could lead to the collapse of PZL Mielec. That same month, a rival plan to procure second-hand Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets for
2340-491: The Royal Thai Air Force . Sales of the L-39 declined during the 1990s. This downturn has been attributed to the loss of the captive Warsaw Pact trainer market, to which a substantial proportion of the total aircraft manufactured had been historically sold; allegations about Czechoslovak banks being unable to finance the defense industry and inaction on the part of the Czechoslovak government; and concerns over
2430-468: The Russian Air Force in 1991, the newly formed service found itself with hundreds of L-39 aircraft, the majority of which were surplus to their training requirements. According to author Stephan Wilkinson, by 2005, Russia was seeking to potentially sell up to 800 of their L-39s, which were receiving only a basic level of maintenance once per month while their fate was being decided. Starting in
2520-529: The Soviet Air Force in 1992. Most of these, however, were reportedly abandoned or not in flyable condition, but during the August–November 1994 conflict between nationalist and pro-Russian forces L-39s were deployed and were possibly one of the few air attack (and possibly reconnaissance) elements on Dzhokar Dudayev 's forces. At least one was reported as shot down near Goragorsk on October 4 by
2610-575: The TS-11 Iskra bis A , commenced delivery to the service. From about 1966, new-build aircraft were furnished with a newer Polish-designed turbojet engine, designated as the WSK SO-1 , which was capable of producing up to 9.80 kN (2,200 lb f ) of thrust and reportedly gave the TS-11 a top speed of 497 mph. From 1969 onwards, the improved WSK SO-3 engine became available, offering considerably longer times between overhauls; this engine
2700-559: The War in Abkhazia (1992–1993) , Abkhaz separatist forces received several L-39s from Russia and Chechnya, which were used in combat against Georgian forces. On 10 January 1993, an Abkhaz L-39 was shot down by a Russian SA-11 Buk during a friendly-fire incident. The pilot, Oleg Chanba, who was commander of the Abkhaz separatist air force, was killed during the incident. On 1 April 1993, during
2790-463: The Warsaw Pact nations. On 4 November 1969, the L-39 (under the designation "Prototype X-02" – the second airframe to be built) conducted its maiden flight , for which it was piloted by Rudolf Duchoň , the factory's test pilot . Serial production of the initial model of the L-39, designated L-39C , commenced in 1971. During 1972, the L-39 Albatros was formally recognized by the majority of
PZL I-22 Iryda - Misplaced Pages Continue
2880-522: The fuselage ahead of the wing's leading edge . The flaps, landing gear, wheel brakes and air brakes are powered by a hydraulic system. Controls are pushrod-actuated and have electrically powered servo tabs on the ailerons and rudder. Operational g-force limits at 4,200 kilograms (9,300 lb) are +8/-4 g. A long, pointed nose leads back to the tandem cockpit, in which the student and instructor sit on Czech-built VS-1 ejection seats under individual canopies, which are opened manually and are hinged on
2970-657: The 1990s, shortly following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War , Aero Vodochody decided to develop versions of the Albatros equipped with Western-sourced avionics, engines, and weapon systems. Around the same time, Aero Vodochody formed an active partnership with Elbit Systems of Israel , under which a number of L-39s were delivered to Elbit to be equipped with modern electronics and onboard systems before being re-exported to end users such as
3060-826: The 9 December 2020 the last Polish Air Force training sortie of the TS-11 Iskra serial number 2001 took place [1] after which the jet training of the Polish Air Force passed to the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master of which Poland has 12 in service as of December 2020. The only Polish Air Force TS-11 left flying in Poland after 9 December 2020 were the display team TS-11 from Team Iskry, who performed their final display on 22 August 2021. Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77 General characteristics Performance Armament Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Aero L-39 Albatros The Aero L-39 Albatros
3150-668: The AI-25 turbofan with a Williams FJ44 engine; the airframe is modified, the wingtip fuel tanks being eliminated, and a new suite of avionics will be provided. The first flight of the L-39 Skyfox was in December 2018, and final military type certification was granted by the Czech Military Aviation Authority in 2022. The first production L-39NG is expected to fly by the end of 2022. The L-39 Albatros
3240-514: The Defense Ministry had demanded additional unfunded factory testing, the ministry accused the company of negligence, and claimed that the aircraft lacked necessary quality-control certification to be deemed safe for test flights. The prototype was grounded while legal action proceeded. The Polish Air Force's procurement of the Iryda was formally cancelled in 1998, allegedly in response to the development difficulties experienced as well as
3330-624: The Il-76s developed technical problems while crossing the Atlantic Ocean . The aircraft were then searched by the Brazilian authorities: instead of medical supplies – as quoted in the transport documentation – the crate of the first of 17 L-39s bound for Nicaragua together with arms and parachutes, to support the country's war against US-backed Contras , were found. The cargo was impounded for some time before being returned to Libya, while
3420-511: The Indian Air Force officially withdrew the last of its Iskra trainers. By 1987, a total of 424 aircraft had reportedly been constructed, after which point production of the type was terminated due to a lack of demand. During 2002, the Polish Air Force reportedly still operated a fleet of 110 TS-11s, including 5 TS-11R reconnaissance aircraft. The Iskra became the first and so far the only Polish jet trainer to reach serial production –
3510-453: The Iryda fleet to have achieved the highest serviceability statistics in the air force's inventory. However, Colonel Janusz Karpowicz of the Deblin pilot-training school criticised the Iryda for possessing longitudinally "heavy" controls, a relatively high approach speed, and the capability of its avionics. In February 1996, the Polish Air Force grounded its Iryda fleet and froze its orders for
3600-470: The Iryda itself languished. In the late 1990s Polish Government support for the programme was withdrawn, and the handful of delivered aircraft were stored. Despite attempts to revive the programme by PZL Mielec, no orders have been forthcoming. In 1976, the Warsaw Institute of Aeronautics (Polish: Instytut Lotnictwa) initiated work on a program to develop a new jet-powered trainer aircraft; this
3690-598: The L-159 in partnership with Elbit, but the Czech Ministry of Defense instead selected Rockwell Collins to partner on the program. The limited success of the L-159 led Aero to announce at the 2014 Farnborough Airshow that it was developing an upgraded version of the L-39, designated L-39NG ( Skyfox ), to compete with the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 and British Aerospace Hawk . The L-39 Skyfox replaces
PZL I-22 Iryda - Misplaced Pages Continue
3780-513: The L-39 lineage would be extended to the L-139, a prototype L-39 fitted with a Western-sourced Garrett TFE731 engine. A combat-oriented development of the aircraft, designated as the L-159 ALCA , entered production in 1997, and has since been procured by a range of export customers. Production of the original L-39 came to an end during the mid-1990s, orders having declined substantially following
3870-452: The L-39V, conducted its initial flight. During 1975, the first L-39ZO training/light combat model, which was equipped with four underwing hardpoints as well as a strengthened wing and modified landing gear, performed its first flight. In 1977, the first L-39ZA light combat variant, which was fitted with a single Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 cannon mounted underneath the fuselage in addition to
3960-517: The Polish Air Force was officially suspended; the negative impact on Polish industry was apparently a major contributing factor to this decision. Nevertheless, competing trainers, including the Alpha Jet, Saab 105 , and Aero L-39 Albatros , were demonstrated to Polish officials. PZL Mielec offered several improvements for the Iryda, including various aerodynamic improvements, such as leading-edge root extensions and trailing edge flaps , along with
4050-422: The Polish Air Force's aerobatics display team, which was initially called Rombik and is currently named Biało-Czerwone Iskry (Translates to English as White-and-Red Sparks ). Unusually for an Eastern European aircraft of the era, the TS-11 never received a NATO reporting name (for jet trainers, a two-syllable word starting with letter M) for the type. During the 1960s, the Iskra competed to be selected as
4140-528: The Russian air and ground campaign, as well as the capability of several aircraft to conduct kamikaze attacks on Russian nuclear power plants (specifically via means of the ejection seat in most aircraft, notably the L-39, by filling them with explosives to act as improvised cruise missiles). Iraq became the first export customer for the L-39 Albatros. By mid 1970, the Iraqi Air Force had procured
4230-501: The TS-11 came to an end during 1987, however the type remained in service with the Polish Air Force and the Indian Air Force into the 21st century. From 1969 onwards, a handful of TS-11s have been used by the Polish Air Force's Biało-Czerwone Iskry aerobatics display team, who performed their last display on 22 August 2021. It has also been used for aerial reconnaissance purposes. During the aircraft's later years of service, several examples have been sold onto private owners. Following
4320-420: The TS-11. By 2013, Poland was stated to have a total of 30 (total number of school aircraft: TS-11, PZL-130) operational Iskras still in service. During 2016, Poland took delivery of its first few Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Masters , a modern trainer aircraft which, in conjunction with ground-based training equipment such as flight simulators , shall progressively take on the Polish Air Force's training needs. On
4410-563: The attack on civilian targets in Sokhumi , Georgian forces managed to damage an L-39, which fell into the sea. In the spring of 2008, a number of Georgian drones were shot down by Abkhazian separatist forces over the Abkhazia region. The Abkhazian separatist forces claimed that one of its missile-equipped L-39s had shot down a Georgian Hermes 450 unmanned reconnaissance drone. Footage released later by Georgian authorities clearly shows
4500-586: The captured L-39s. In October 2014, the Syrian Government claimed that at least two rebel-held L-39s had been airworthy and had recently been destroyed by Syrian Air Force aircraft. According to Reuters , by 2014, the L-39 had allegedly become one of the favoured platforms of the Syrian Air Force for performing ground attack missions due to its slower speed and higher agility over other aircraft in its inventory. In December 2015, following
4590-426: The cockpit and the tailpipe below the horizontal tailplane. The engine has a time between overhaul (TBO) of 1,000 flight hours; it is allegedly cheaper than the majority of turbine engines to overhaul. Five rubber bag fuel tanks are located in the fuselage behind the cockpit. Several heavy radio units are typically installed in an aft avionics bay; these are often removed on civilian-operated aircraft and replaced with
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#17327919609924680-627: The countries comprising the Warsaw Pact as their preferred primary trainer, after which point, sizable orders from military customers throughout the bloc proceeded, many of which were from the Soviet Air Forces . In 1974, the first L-39 trainer entered service with the Czechoslovak Air Force. Several specialised variants of the base L-39 design were quickly introduced. In 1972, a purpose-built target tug variant,
4770-479: The design work on the program was transferred to aircraft manufacturer PZL-Mielec at an early stage in order that IL could resume its primary mission of scientific and technological research. Much of the design work on the program was produced in response to the specified needs of a requirement issued by the Polish Air Force for a capable jet-propelled trainer aircraft, which was seeking a replacement for
4860-556: The downing. While newer versions are now replacing older L-39s in service, thousands remain in active service as trainers, and many are finding new homes with private warbird owners all over the world. It has been claimed that the L-39's desirability stems from the fact that it is "the only available second-generation jet trainer". This trend is particularly evident in the United States, where their $ 200,000–$ 300,000 price puts them in range of moderately wealthy pilots looking for
4950-678: The early 1990s, the Russian Air Force has pursued the development of a domestically built jet trainer, for which the Yakovlev Yak-130 was selected; the Yak-130 shall eventually replace the L-39 in Russian service within its operational roles. On 24 February 2022, a Ukrainian L-39 from the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade (Ukraine) piloted by Dmytro Kolomiyets was shot down by a Russian aircraft in Khmelnytskyi during
5040-507: The end of World War II , Poland was politically dominated by the neighbouring Soviet Union ; as a consequence, the Polish aviation industry underwent vast changes at the behest of the Soviets. According to aviation author Jerzy K. Cynk, the immediate post-war decade was a period of frustrated efforts and disappointments, by early 1951, all of the nation's design offices had been dissolved and
5130-679: The end of the Cold War . At the Farnborough Airshow in July 2014, Aero Vodochody announced the launch of the L-39NG , an upgraded and modernised version of the L-39; this programme is set to produce new-build aircraft alongside the extensive rebuilding of existing aircraft. In 2023, production of the L-39NG resumed under the name Skyfox , with 34 aircraft on order. In 1964, the Czechoslovak aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody embarked on
5220-602: The entirety of indigenous projects were terminated. Instead, Poland's aircraft factories were assigned to produce mainly Russian -sourced military-orientated equipment to meet the requirements of the Soviet war machine, such as the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 fighter aircraft. Shortly following the death of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin , military orders were drastically cut, leading to Polish aircraft plants falling idle and some being permanently closing down. While
5310-404: The first prototype conducted its maiden flight , powered by an imported Viper 8 engine, capable of producing up to 7.80 kN (1,750 lb f ) of thrust. On 11 September 1960, the aircraft's existence was publicly revealed during an aerial display held over Łódź . The next pair of prototypes, which performed their first flights during March and July 1961 respectively, were instead powered by
5400-485: The first prototype conducted the type's maiden flight . Early examples of the type were powered by a pair of PZL-5s , an older generation turbojet engine; these were considered to be underpowered and were only intended as a temporary measure while issues with the newer K-15 were being resolved. Following the Revolutions of 1989 , Poland soon gained greater accessibility to international markets; this had an impact upon
5490-466: The first trainer aircraft in the world to be equipped with a turbofan powerplant. Quantity production of the L-39 Albatros proceeded in 1971; one year later, it was formally recognized by the majority of the Warsaw Pact countries as their preferred primary trainer. Accordingly, thousands of L39s would be produced for various military customers in Eastern Europe. Additionally, it was exported to
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#17327919609925580-406: The flaps and the trim system being connected in order to counteract the potentially large pitch changes that would otherwise be generated by vigorous movements of the flaps. The tall, swept vertical tail has an inset rudder . Variable-incidence horizontal stabilizers with inset elevators are mounted at the base of the rudder and over the exhaust nozzle. Side-by-side airbrakes are located under
5670-425: The fledgling Iryda. It was chosen to adopt a British -developed Martin-Baker Mk.10 ejection seat ; consideration was reportedly given to the incorporation of foreign-sourced avionics from French aeronautics company SAGEM . During May 1995, the first pair of M-93K Irydas were delivered to the Polish Air Force; these were intended to be the production-standard version of the type. Unlike the five preceding units of
5760-625: The four hardpoints and strengthening of the L-39ZO, made its maiden flight. According to aerospace publication Flight International , roughly 200 L-39s were being sold each year in the jet trainer market during the late 1980s. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute , in 1993, the total export orders gained for the L-39 represented 80 per cent of the value of all Czech military product export sales made for that year. During
5850-664: The later stages of the 1996–2001 phase of the Afghan civil war against the Northern Alliance . In early 2001, only two of these reportedly remained operational. Following the United States invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, a number of L-39s were inducted into the Afghan Air Force . A number of L-39s, along with older L-29s, were used extensively by Azeri forces to perform ground attack missions during
5940-412: The nation's design offices had been liquidated, some former members had joined Poland's Aviation Institute (1L) and performed some limited work on various original projects, even though such efforts were initially officially discouraged. As such, it was at IL that the effort to design would become the first jet aircraft to be developed in Poland originated; however, during the late 1950s, responsibility for
6030-410: The new TS-11S Iskra (Spark) as a future jet trainer. It will be equipped with new avionics, strengthened structures and a more powerful engine. During 1964, the TS-11 prototype broke four separate world records in its class, including a speed record, having been recorded as having attained a top speed of 839 km/h (524 mph) during one flight. From 1969 onwards, various TS-11s have been used by
6120-482: The nose gear retracts forward. The basic L-39C trainer has provision for two underwing pylons for drop tanks or practice weapons, but these are not usually fitted. It can be armed with a pair of K-13 missiles to provide a basic air defense capability. Light-attack variants have four underwing hardpoints for ground attack stores, while the ZA variant also has an underfuselage gun pod . Mock UB-16 rocket pods can also be installed for visual appearance only. During
6210-424: The opening hours of the Russian invasion of Ukraine . On 9 August 2022, Dmytro Kolomiyets was posthumously awarded with the Order of the Gold Star . On 25 August 2023, two Ukrainian L-39s collided during a combat mission over Zhytomyr , killing three pilots. Among those killed was combat pilot Andrii Pilshchykov , an Order of Courage recipient more commonly known by his callsign "Juice", who had become famous in
6300-422: The piston-engined PZL TS-8 Bies at the time. Polish government officials came to openly regard the project as being of considerable importance to the nation's aviation industry, thus vigorous efforts were made to support the development of the TS-11. The main designer was Polish aeronautical engineer Tadeusz Sołtyk ; his initials was the source for part of the type's official designation TS-11 . Early on, it
6390-439: The programme intended to produce a successor, the PZL I-22 Iryda (later designated as the M-93 Iryda ), failed for several reasons and only a few were completed during the 1990s before the program was aborted. In its place, the TS-11 has been considered for upgrades to better enable its continued service; however, during 2010, the Polish Air Force issued a tender for a new advanced jet pilot training system to eventually replace
6480-427: The programme was officially resumed in response to a fresh order from the Polish Air Force, which involved the purchase of six new-build aircraft and the retrofitting of 11 existing aircraft in air force service with improved engines, avionics and wings by 1998. During October 1996, PZL-Mielec stated that it aimed for an upgraded prototype to be flown prior to the end of the year; the company also had ambitions to secure
6570-750: The protracted shortage of funding that was common around this period; a key event that had reportedly contributed to its cancellation was the fatal crash in 1996. In the summer of 2002, PZL-Mielec relaunched development of the type, resuming flights of the Iryda on 22 July of that year, while attempting to gain interest and secure orders. Dubbed Iskra 2 , it received a new Thales -supplied avionics suite and featured underwing hard points to enable it to carry armament, external fuel tanks, and other equipment. Data from Instytut Lotnictwa General characteristics Performance Armament Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era TS-11 Iskra The PZL TS-11 Iskra (English: Spark )
6660-519: The quality of manufacturing standards. In 1996, production of the L-39 came to an end. Since the end of production, Aero Vodochody has developed several improved variants of the L-39 to take its place, and has continued extensive support and overhaul operations for existing L-39 customers. One of the replacements for the L-39 Albatros was the Aero L-159 Alca , a modernised version of the L-39. Originally, Aero Vodochody had intended to develop
6750-414: The right. The rear seat, typically used by the instructor, is elevated slightly to readily enable observation and guidance of the student's actions in the forward position. The design of the cockpit, panel layout and many of its fittings resemble or are identical in function to those of other commonly used Soviet aircraft; for example, the procedure for deploying the ejection seat is exactly the same as for
6840-482: The rugged design of the landing gear and favourable low landing speeds. The aircraft's flying qualities are reportedly simple, which is made easier by way of a rapid throttle response, making it easier for students who had never previously flown a jet aircraft before to successfully control. As a training platform, the L-39 itself comprised part of a comprehensive system that also used flight simulators and mobile ground test equipment. The low-set, straight wing has
6930-454: The securing of the Kweiris airbase by government forces, the resumption of ground-attack missions by L-39s in the vicinity of Aleppo commenced shortly thereafter. On 26 December 2017, a Syrian L-39 was shot down near Hama airport. On 3 March 2020, a Syrian Arab Army Air Force L-39 was shot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16 over Idlib province. Both Syrian and Turkish forces confirmed
7020-605: The standard jet trainer for the Warsaw Pact , the Soviet Union had given Poland a promise to support its aviation industry and to favour the procurement of suitable aircraft for this purpose from Polish manufacturers. However, the Iskra was not selected for this role, it had lost out to the Czechoslovak Aero L-29 Delfín , another newly designed jet-propelled trainer aircraft; according to aviation author John C. Fredrikson, this outcome had been highly unexpected and surprising to several observers. Largely as
7110-410: The transports were permitted to return to their country. During the 1990s and 2000s, Libya made multiple attempts to get components and services for its air force in spite of an embargo placed upon the country by United Nations Security Council Resolution 748 ; by 2001, only half of Libya's L-39s were serviceable as a consequence. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the formation of
7200-423: The type following a fatal accident on 24 January of that year. The accident, which was reportedly the result of a trim -related issue, and its investigation became highly politicised. During March 1996, the Warsaw Institute of Aeronautics abandoned development of its new D-18A engine, which was intended to power future combat-orientated versions of the Iryda, reportedly due to market viability concerns. In April 1996,
7290-520: The type that had been previously handed over, the M-93K model was powered by the PZL K-15 engines instead of the older PZL-5 units which had been adopted as an interim powerplant. Amongst other benefits, the more powerful K-15 engines almost doubled the Iryda's payload capacity. The K-15 engine was not considered to be a likely candidate for export sales of the Iryda; British engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce
7380-428: The type, designated as the TS-11 Iskra bis A , commenced to the Polish Air Force. During the 1960s, the Iskra competed to be selected as the standard jet trainer throughout the Warsaw Pact . However, it was not selected to fulfil this significant role, the rival Czechoslovakian Aero L-29 Delfín having been chosen instead, which went on to be built in greater numbers for a wide number of export customers. Production of
7470-483: The type. A fatal accident involving the type on 24 January 1996 fuelled criticism and undermined support for the programme. In 1996, an agreement was struck to upgrade the existing aircraft to a new standard, flight testing of which commenced the following year. However, relations between PZL Mielec and the Polish Defense Ministry became so poor over the programme that legal action was initiated while
7560-536: The west for his articulate appeals early in the war for allies to supply F-16s to Ukraine. The Syrian Arab Air Force has operated a number of armed L-39ZA light attack variants. Since the early stages of the Syrian civil war , the Syrian Air Force's L-39 aircraft have been routinely deployed in counter-insurgency operations against various rebel ground forces, a number of these aircraft have also been shot down by ground fire. They were first used operationally during
7650-411: Was anticipated that the upgrade would be certified during 1998, after which the Polish Air Force would commence operational use of the type. Relations between PZL-Mielec and the Polish Defense Ministry broke down in the second half of 1997, culminating in the company opting to sue the ministry over its alleged failure to honour the terms of a contract pertaining to the Iryda. While PZL-Mielec claimed that
7740-489: Was at one stage working with PZL to certify its Viper engine to power the type. While the Polish Armed Forces were heavily impacted by curtailed budgets during the 1990s, the service intended to take delivery of five M-93K aircraft by the end of 1995, while plans for purchasing an additional six-to-eight Irydas were publicly discussed. At the time, there was an acknowledged desire for "around 40" jet trainers;
7830-500: Was decided to adopt a foreign-sourced turbojet engine to power the aircraft. Quickly, the British Armstrong Siddeley Viper had emerged as the company's favoured option; however, reportedly, negotiations for its acquisition eventually broken down; accordingly, work on the project was delayed until a suitable domestically built powerplant had reached an advanced stage of development. On 5 February 1960,
7920-466: Was designed to be a cost-effective jet-powered trainer aircraft, which is also capable of performing ground attack missions. For operational flexibility, simplicity, and affordability, the majority of onboard systems have been simplified to avoid incurring high levels of maintenance, as well as to minimize damage caused by mishandling when flown by inexperienced air crew. It could be readily flown from austere airstrips such as frozen lakebeds, enabled through
8010-502: Was later improved into the WSK SO-3W , which was able to generate 10.80 kN (2,425 lb f ) of thrust. The PZL TS-11 Iskra is an all-metal jet-propelled trainer aircraft. It is relatively conventional in layout, featuring a trapezoid -shaped mid-wing arrangement. These wings, which only had a gentle angle of sweep along the leading edge , feature air intakes embedded into the wing root. The TS-11's single turbojet engine
8100-413: Was primarily envisioned to replace the Polish Air Force 's existing TS-11 Iskra fleet, an indigenously-developed first generation jet trainer aircraft. A key feature of the new type would be its PZL K-15 turbojet engines, which were also locally designed by the Warsaw Institute of Aeronautics. Subsequently dubbed Iryda , the aircraft was designed by PZL Mielec (then WSK-Mielec ). On 3 March 1985,
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