Czechs to sell up to 28 old fighter jets to U.S. company

Reuters ^ | Nov 29, 2013

[sukhoi-30mki]

Nov 29 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic is close to selling up to 28 subsonic fighter jets to a private company in the United States after years of failed attempts to offload the surplus planes, the Defence Ministry said on Friday.

The U.S. company, Draken International, has placed a binding bid to buy 14 L-159 planes with an option for 14 more for a total price of up to 516 million crowns ($25.7 million).

The government should decide about the contract by the end of the year. It could be completed in January 2014, the defence ministry said.

"The Czech Republic has been trying to sell these planes since 2004. There were hundreds of talks with dozens of countries, but always without success," Defence Minister Vlastimil Picek told a news conference.

Picek is part of a caretaker cabinet that is leading the country until a new government can be formed following an early election in October.

The planes are from the state's stock. The L-159's maker, Czech firm Aero Vodochody, is also involved in talks for a possible contract for repairs and

[MasterGunner01]

No, this is still a two seat L-159 trainer. The GIB (guy in back) is using a hood to do instrument training. The hood blocks all outside world references and forces the trainee to use his instruments only and not outside ques.

[MasterGunner01]

Regarding ejection seats in jets: it is absolutely necessary for a jet to have a working ejection seat for safe exit from an out of control aircraft or one that suffers from a catastrophic engine failure. That, and the fact many jets have the glide ratio of a brick. There are simply too many external projections — intakes, vertical or horizontal tail surfaces, or other pilot killers — not to have a working seat. Of the ejection seats, a Zero-Zero (zero speed and zero altitude) seat is preferable..

[hattend]

Ah, I notice that now

[Blood of Tyrants]

“14000 hrs in all types of aircraft.”

That might help.:)

[az_gila]

Yes it does. Looks like ESCAPAC 3-C, common in the TA-4J. Flew those in VA-43, 1970-1972.

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The FAA requires external markings if the ejection seat is operational.

I see no external markings in the photo. The seat may be installed but I don't believe it is armed.

[MasterGunner01]

The Czech trainers are certainly good aircraft. However, there are at least two owners of exotic warbirds that have deep pockets. Pride Aviation of Rockford, IL sold two Sukhoi Su-27UB Flanker C's for a mere $5 million each. Both jets had gone through factory overhauls. Here's the information: http://www.prideaircraft.com/flanker.htm