The Czech L-39NG Skyfox aircraft, an example of what Spain was able to do with the C-101 Aviojet

Spain has the great advantage of being part of the Airbus consortium and contributing to major projects such as the Eurofighter and the A400M.

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One of the last Spanish CASA C-101 Aviojet planes in service shown up close

However, some needs remain unmet. This is the case with the CASA C-101 Aviojet training aircraft, which has been replaced in Spain by a turboprop, the Pilatus PC-21. I don't doubt the quality of this aircraft, but it's a shame that Spain, which years ago was able to manufacture its own jet trainers (not only the Aviojet, but also the 1955 Hispano Aviación HA-200 Saeta), can no longer meet this need on its own, despite having an industry like Airbus. It's a matter of political will.

I was prompted to make this reflection after watching this video published by the YouTube channel NATO Days, in which we see an Aero L-39NG Skyfox in an exhibition at Ostrava airport in 2025.

The Skyfox is a development of the famous Czechoslovakian Aero L-39 Albatross training aircraft (pictured above), with which it shares its designation, adding the initials NG for "Next Generation." The Albatross made its first flight on November 4, 1968, and was a huge sales success. Around 2,900 units were built and sold to dozens of countries, including the Soviet Union and its satellite states (at the time, Czechoslovakia was under a communist dictatorship imposed by Moscow). Even today, the Albatross continues to have dozens of military and civilian operators.

The launch of the Skyfox was announced in July 2014. Its development took place between 2015 and 2024, with the collaboration of two American companies: Williams International, which manufactures the FJ44-4M turbofan engine for this new Czech aircraft (replacing the Soviet Ivchenko AI-25TL engine of the Albatros), and Draken International, which has a fleet of aircraft with which it provides training services to air forces.

The Skyfox's first flight took place on September 14, 2015. Four prototypes of this aircraft were built, and the program has been divided into two phases. The first phase consists of offering an upgrade to L-39 Albatros operators, with new avionics and a new engine, while utilizing the fuselages of the older aircraft. The second phase consists of offering completely new aircraft.

Externally, the L-39NG is very similar to the Albatross. It has those characteristic air intakes above the wings and a pointed nose that makes it look like a light attack aircraft.

The main differences are a wider cockpit, with detonating cords on the windows to facilitate ejection, and wet wings, as fully enclosed wings are known in aeronautics to house fuel tanks. The old wingtip fuel tanks are gone, leaving a wing design very similar to that of the C-101.

The L-39NG is lighter than the L-39 (3,100 kg empty weight vs. 3,455 kg), much faster (900 km/h vs. 750 km/h), and has a much greater range (2,590 km vs. 1,100 km). Its service ceiling is slightly higher (11,500 meters vs. 11,000 meters), as is its rate of climb (23 m/s vs. 21 m/s). Furthermore, it can carry more armament (1,640 kg on five hardpoints vs. 284 kg on two hardpoints).

The philosophy of Aero Vodochody, the Czech manufacturer of the Skyfox, has been simple and logical: if you have a good aircraft, why build a completely new one? Improve what you already have. We're talking about a training aircraft, not a fighter jet. There's no need to change what's working well and start from scratch. Spain could have done the same with the C-101 Aviojet, but missed the opportunity.

Currently, the Skyfox already has three operators. The Pardubice Flight Training Center (CLV), a Czech state-owned company that provides training to national and foreign pilots, operates eight L-39NG.T1s. In addition, two Albatros operators have placed orders: the Hungarian Air Force has purchased 12 (above), eight L-39NG.T1s for training and four L-39NG.R1s for reconnaissance missions. Furthermore, the Vietnamese Air Force has ordered 12 L-39NG.A1s, a training and combat variant (below).

Slovakia also has plans to acquire the Skyfox. Additionally, Ghana and Senegal have expressed interest in the aircraft. Draken International also aims to upgrade its Albatros to the NG version. Austria and Portugal also showed interest in the Skyfox, but ultimately the sales fell through.

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Photos: Aero Vodochody.