Who knows L-39's?

[Rob Mears]

I've just started looking seriously at the L-39 Albatros market, trying to locate a quality flyer for a friend of mine. I was wondering if anyone here has spent any time researching these, and if so, are there any known issues with the type I should know about when sizing up the field? There seem to be quite a few out there, and the price range fluctuates fairly drastically from example to example.

I'd like to locate a clean aircraft with mid-to-low times that can be had for a fair price. Something currently in the US with a current annual that's ready to go with little or no TLC needed. The interested party is a pilot, not a mechanic, and would like to get some decent time-in-type under his belt before having to address any serious issues with the plane. If anyone knows a plane that fits this bill, please let me know!

Rob Mears
SkyChrgr1@aol.com

[n5151ts]

buy an L-29 to build time and talent then move up to an L-39 or even better an L-59

[Rob Mears]

That's what I was figuring, somewhere between $200K - $250K for a well kept flying example with good times and no known issues. L-59 is beyond the scope I imagine, at three times the cost to boot. A good "starter" L-39 will fit the bill perfectly.

[n5151ts]

http://www.minhjet.com/ call my friend Minh he is mr. L39. tell him jet1 referred you---but only if you are serious

Last edited by n5151ts on Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Tulio]

Rob,

Just by coincidence, Barnstormers has several ads for L-39s and 29s:

http://www.barnstormers.com/cat.php?PHP ... 94a5ab5cc8

If the link does not work, the ads were roughly on page 4 of all the ads for today.

Saludos,


Tulio

[HogDriver44]

Rob,

I have extensively flown each of the L-39s for sale here:

http://www.prideaircraft.com/forsale.htm

They're all good planes -- the prices tend to reflect the engine times and avionics more than anything else.

The Ivchenko AI-25TL engine has a slightly more complicated engine life calculation that Western warbirds have. The folks at Pride Aircraft will be able to discuss it with your friend in more detail. (815-969-7743 or http://www.prideaircraft.com).

Parts availability is good, but if you get a good airplane to start with, you won't need many. The L-39 is pretty simple and very reliable. It's not uncommon for a thorough annual Condition Inspection to cost less than the Annual for a four-seat piston General Aviation plane.

The L-39 is the best jet warbird available today. That's a pretty bold statement, but I can say it very confidently. The L-39 is fun, reliable, and very modern (as warbirds go). It's also pretty easy on the eyes.

As they say, "Life's too short to fly an old, ugly jet."

[CAPFlyer]

I had the great pleasure of watching 2 AERO techs do annuals on 3 L-39s and do quite a bit of work on a 4th that is still being put back together and it's an interesting process, but as was said before, not a lot of parts are replaced during the annual. Most of the cost (other than getting them over here from the Czech Republic) was Jet-A to test & tune the engines. They also pulled all the tires (and replaced several of them due to wear, but that was needed anyway), repack the bearings, check the brakes, service the hydraulics, and air conditioner, and that's about it. The majority of the time they spent was tuning the engines for the new Ultra-Low Sulfur Jet-A as it was causing them to run a bit "hot" but other than that, it's amazing how little is actually involved as far as work. Most everything else is simply cleaned up or cleaned out and it's good to go for another year.

The thing that was stressed to me about the L-39 (and actually, just about all Russian-built jets and helicopters) while I was watching and learning is that they're sealed systems. For example, if everything is working right, the airplane can hold the hydraulic system pressure for a WEEK. Everything is on-demand instead of continuous, so many parts which get replaced on western aircraft annually last for most of the airplane's life. If you see something leaking from an L-29 or L-39, it's broke.

Still, 160 gallons/hr+ of Jet-A is expensive, so any perceived savings in maintenance quickly dissapear when you're having fun.

[n5151ts]

[quote="HogDriver44"]Rob,

I have extensively flown each of the L-39s for sale here:http://www.prideaircraft.com/forsale.htm/quote]

and as soon as I sell every single thing I have ill buy it! does it have the bivouac kit with tent, bathroom and field kitchen...ill need it cause ill be living in it!

[Bill Greenwood]

Hey, I don't know very much about jets, but if you are new to them I would recomend training with Larry Salgenek sp? at Santa Fe, N.M. He has a L29 or 39, Mig 15, T-33 ect. and has been doing this for aboujt 15 years, I believe they are accident free which says a lot. He's also a fun, down to earth guy who's not as wrapped up in himself as some others might be. The jet warbirds have had a very rough time the last couple of years. If I were to make an outside guess at factors, it might be a fast airplane, fairly high landing speed, high wing loading and stall speed. Perhaps most of all the L-29 or 39 seem to be marketed as suitable for low time or first time warbird pilots. It is also may be that none of this is really a factor; waribird accidents seem to travel in waves, a few years ago it was Mustangs, then T-28s, then jets. Maybe it is only the natural variations. But if I was coming into them I would cetainly want to get a good one, they are realatively cheap so this should be doable, and get top notch training. Also Santa Fe is a great place ot visit, for Western art and good food.

[n5151ts]

second to that. thats why I think an L-29 is a better "first" jet...you can get in to one for a lot less and then use the extra money to blow gazz through it and learn !

[T33driver]

Another excellent resource for L-39 sales and maintenance is Rich Hess of International Jets in Gadsen Alabama. I'll second Buck (Hogdriver44) on Pride Aircraft of Rockford Illinois as a great source for L-39 sales, flight training and maintenance. Along with Int'l Jets and Larry Salganek's Jet Warbird Training Center, they can provide high quality L-39 checkouts from highly trained instructors who also happen to be first class guys with whom you'll enjoy flying. Besides the L-39 being a simple, docile, reliable airplane, there is an enormous network of spare parts, fellow operators, maintenance and flight training available to owners since so many are in private hands. For most pilots with even basic general aviation high performance time, it's not a steep hill to climb to check out in the L-39--even as a first jet.

[DB2]

And I'll second International Jets. A friend of mine purchased his L-39 from them over 10 years ago and has always been happy with their service.

There is a great website and forum for the L-39 at www.l39.com