Aero Vodochody (commonly referred to as Aero) is a Czech (previous Czechoslovak) aircraft company. Factory and factory airport are located in the Prague-East District, on the territory between the Vodochody and the Odolena Voda region.
Aero was active from 1919, notable for producing the L-29 Delfin, L-39 Albatros, L-59 Super Albatros, and the L-159 Alca military light combat jet. From 1929 until 1951 it also made a range of small and medium-sized cars with two-stroke engines, and in 1946–47 it built the Škoda 150 truck under licence.
The company is unrelated to the Polish Aero AT company.
Aero L-39 Albatros
The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer developed in Czechoslovakia. Designed during the 1960s as a replacement for the Aero L-29 Delfín as principal training aircraft, it was the first trainer aircraft to be equipped with a turbofan powerplant.
Design started in 1964, first flight was on 4 November 1968 and production started in 1971. In 1972 the L-39 Albatros was formally recognized by the majority of the countries comprising the Warsaw Pact as their preferred primary trainer. The type was exported to a wide range of countries as a military trainer. Production ended in 1996.
Aero L-39C Albatros, registration ES-YLI, built ????, serial number 433142 Vliegbasis Kleine-Brogel (EBBL), Peer, België, 14 September 2019
Aero L-39ZO Albatros, registration N139LE, built 1977, serial number 731021 Vliegbasis Volkel (UDE/EHVK), Uden, Netherlands, 14 June 2019