L-39 Albatros
Posted on 07/08/2010 6:30:29 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
One of the more unusual stories about the war in Afghanistan is the creation of the Afghan air force. In hopes of building a more self-sufficient Afghan military, the U.S. government has been buying up aircraft from its former Cold War rivals.
Rugged Russian Mi-17 helicopters are at the top of the Pentagon’s wish list, but the interest in ex-Warsaw Pact aircraft is not just limited to choppers. The Navy is currently in the market to buy three L-39C Albatros planes for the Afghan military.
The Albatros – that’s the correct Czech spelling – is a subsonic jet that can be used as trainer aircraft or a light bomber. The Afghan air force currently has three L-39s, but they aren’t flying missions: They are on the ground awaiting overhaul, and haven’t been flown since last August. Air Force Capt. Robert Leese, spokesman for the Air Force’s 438th Air Expeditionary Wing in Afghanistan, said the new Czech aircraft are supposed to supplement the L-39s sitting on the tarmac.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...
L-39 Albatros
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