First stage of czaf pilot training on L-159T1 completed

20/08/2007 | On August 20, 2007, the first stage of the training of the Czech Air Force (CzAF) pilots-instructors and the State Authority for Quality Management (Authority) pilots for the new L-159 training T1 version was completed in AERO Vodochody a.s..

On August 20, 2007, the first stage of the training of the Czech Air Force (CzAF) pilots-instructors and the State Authority for Quality Management (Authority) pilots for the new L-159 training T1 version was completed in AERO Vodochody a.s. Martin Patera, the Authority Test Pilot was instructed in the last four day flights by AERO Test Pilot Rostislav Stroin who has so far reached around 1000 flight hours on the L-159 aircraft.

The mentioned stage, which was launched on July 30, 2007, included, besides the theoretical part, 18 day flights. The first day flight was carried out on August 7 by Zdenek Ouda, Chief Officer of the Authority, employee of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic.
“It is a great training aircraft, which fully meets the assignment – to design the aircraft as similar to the single-seat light combat L-159, A version, as possible. The only problem I see is that it was supposed to be the first aircraft – it should have preceded the order of the single-seaters,” said Zdenek Ouda after the 51-minute flight in the L-159T1.

The training of the CzAF pilots will go on with its final stage of night flights on the 21. Air Force Base in Caslav and should be completed by August 24. Operation evaluation will follow, checking maintenance procedures, documentation and utility characteristics of the L-159T1 aircraft. The rebuilt aircraft will then be delivered to the customer, the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, with the delivery deadline of all four units by the end of 2007.

The two-seat L-159 advanced trainers, T1 version, are being rebuilt from the originally single-seat L-159 advanced light combat version according to the customer‘s request. The new version maximally copies the single-seat version and short delivery represents another advantage.

The contract on four rebuilt single-seat L-159 aircraft into two-seat T1 version was signed on June 26, 2006. Besides the production of the aircraft itself, it contains delivery of spare parts, ground support equipment, documentation and ground and flight personnel schooling. The contract results from the General Agreement on follow-on support service of CzAF L-159 and L-39 aircraft fleet signed on December 8, 2005.