Vietnamese pilots complete basic training

Vodochody, June 24, 2025 – Vietnamese Air Force pilots have completed basic type training on the Aero L-39 Skyfox tactical trainer and are preparing for advanced training. They have given the aircraft positive reviews for its flight characteristics, modern avionics, and resilience in the demanding climate of Southeast Asia.

The acquisition of the L-39 Skyfox follows decades of successful operation of the L-39C Albatros in the Vietnamese Air Force. The contract for twelve aircraft was completed with the test flight and handover of aircraft nos. 10, 11 and 12. At the customer’s request, the flight test for serviceability was also successfully completed. The physical handover of the aircraft was then supplemented from September 2024 by training of the customer’s flight personnel to obtain the Skyfox aircraft commander and instructor qualifications, which was completed in November for six pilots.

A durable aircraft and enthusiastic pilots

During this year, basic training for a second group of six pilots was successfully completed in several phases. The autumn theory was followed in February by simulator training and pre-flight testing, which refreshed the participants’ basic piloting skills. They were then able to embark on flight training to obtain their aircraft type rating as pilot-in-command. All six Vietnamese pilots have now successfully obtained this rating in their final solo flight.

“The second group of pilots completed a total of 102 flights and 110 hours in the air with the L-39 Skyfox. For pilots with experience on the L-39 Albatros, this was a huge generational leap that required mastering a completely new type of avionics, systems, and performance. The training was made even more difficult by unpleasant monsoon weather with heavy rainfall and high temperatures. This placed great demands on the pilots and technicians, as up to six flights were carried out each day. However, the pilots coped excellently with the complicated conditions and, according to them, the Skyfox’s qualities also helped them significantly. They particularly praised the clear HUD display and other advanced instrumentation, the excellent view from the cockpit, and the aircraft’s pleasant flight characteristics, which are well suited for a training aircraft,” said Petr Doubek, director of the Aero training organization.

The delivery of the L-39 Skyfox to Vietnam so far shows that it is an aircraft with a sophisticated customer delivery system and suitable for demanding climatic zones. An advanced ground training system (GBTS), including a computer-assisted training system, a cabin procedures simulator, and a full mission simulator, helps pilots successfully complete their training. Basic training is followed by advanced training, in which pilots acquire advanced aircraft and systems control skills, including advanced piloting techniques, maximum use of avionics potential, and formation flying.

The L-39 Skyfox aircraft is a completely new, multifunctional, modern platform capable of performing a wide range of functions, from pilot training to various tactical missions such as ground support, reconnaissance, and border patrol. The Skyfox is the most efficient aircraft in its class, available in both Western and Eastern configurations and certified according to EU and NATO regulations. This versatile technology platform combines modern simulation technologies and ground training systems. The Czech L-39 Skyfox tactical training aircraft offers an innovative combination of modern avionics, a powerful jet engine and excellent flight characteristics, making it a suitable choice for all phases of training for 4th and 5th generation aircraft pilots, reconnaissance and other missions focused on cooperation with various ground forces.

AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. focuses on the development, production, maintenance, and modernization of civil and military aircraft and is the largest aircraft manufacturer in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest aircraft manufacturers in the world. In the field of its own aircraft, Aero is a long-standing partner to a number of military air forces and has a strong position in the market for military training and light combat aircraft. Thanks to the 11,000 aircraft it has produced in its 100-year history, hundreds of L-39 Albatros aircraft still in service with dozens of military operators and in a number of demo teams, and especially thanks to its new L-39 Skyfox aircraft, Aero has proven itself as a reliable partner in the global market for jet trainer aircraft. In the field of civil aviation, Aero cooperates with major aircraft manufacturers on a wide range of projects and is a partner in several risk-sharing programs, where it is responsible not only for the production and assembly of aircraft components, but also for their development.

Contact

Radka Černá, PR & Communications Manager
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