Country of origin:

Czechoslovakia

Description:

Two-seat military trainer

Power Plant:

One 1,980 lbst at 15,400 rpm Motorlet M701c 500 turbojet

Specifications:

Armament:

Two hardpoints to carry 150 litre (33 Imp gal) auxiliary fuel tanks; or two 220 kg (100 lb) bombs; or two rocket launchers each with four rockets

History:

The L-29 Delfin was Czechoslovakia’s first jet aircraft of indigenous design, being designed and built at the Vodochody Works of the Czechoslovakian nationalised OK industry, the Company being known as Aero Vodochody Narodni Podnik. It has been building aircraft since just after World War I. Similar in configuration to the Macchi MB-326, having tandem seating and wing-root air intakes, the Delfin had slightly less power. The internal fuel of 962 litres (212 Imp gal) could be supplemented by two 150 litre (33 Imp gal) fuel tanks under the wings.

Three aircraft types were developed to meet Soviet Air Force requirements, the Russian Yak 32, the Polish TS-11 Iskra, and the Czech L-29 Delfin. After a competitive evaluation, the L-29 was chosen as the winner, and examples were exported to a number of air forces, including Syria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, East Germany and, in this region, Indonesia, which obtained the type in 1964.

The prototype made its first flight on 5 April 1959, and the second prototype, like the first, was fitted with a Bristol Siddeley Viper engine. However, in production aircraft the Czech-designed Motorlet M701 or S.50 turbojet was selected.

A number of factories in the Czech aircraft industry were involved in production of sub-components, the engine being built at the Jana Svermy facility at Jinovice. Construction was of all-metal with a T-tail and it had a pressurised cockpit. The entire airframe was of light semi monocoque structure reinforced with high alloy steel in the main stress-bearing components. When production ceased in 1974 some 3,600 examples of the Delfin had been completed and the type was known by NATO as Maya, the L-29 seing service with some thirteen air forces. 

As the type was withdrawn from service most were broken up and a number became available as “warbirds”. Examples have been registered in both the United Kingdom and the United States. In 2003 a display team was formed at San Diego in southern California. Known as the Thunder Delfins, and equipped with four L-29s, it flew regularly at aviation events, this aircraft being chosen, it was said, because it was one of the most reliable, predictable, and easy to fly aircraft in the jet warbird category.

In late 1997 a former Soviet Air Force example arrived at Camden, NSW. This aircraft (c/n 093704 – ex ZU-BCJ, ES-YLI, Red 16 Soviet Air Force) was imported from South Africa where it had been based at Port Elizabeth from 1996. It was imported to Australia for Ultimate Aerobatics of Sydney and became VH-BQJ in September 2001. It was operated by Colarena Investments of Sydney, NSW from September 2001 to 2004 and it remained for a period at Camden until sold to an operator at Bathurst, NSW. It later went to and was based in South Australia with Whale Air of Goolwa. It was sold in 2009 and, whilst being flown from South Australia to Bathurst suffered an undercarriage problem and received some damage landing at Temora, NSW. It was later conveyed to Bathurst for rebuild.

In December 2010 another example became VH-TNW (c/n 292329 – ex N81KF, 2329 Czech Air Force, OK-WXN ) to Windsor’s Edge of Polkolbin, NSW, and later to CCT Racing Pty Ltd of Bathurst on 4 April 2014.

First of the type seen in New Zealand was imported in 2006, becoming ZK-VAU (c/n 094015) to Coromandel Pharmacy Ltd on 30 May 2006. A further example was imported in 2007, becoming ZK-JRF (c/n 892851) to Wairakei Holdings Ltd of Kaiapoi on 30 October. Others became ZK-SSS (c/n 395192) and ZK-SSU (c/n 395100) with Pacific Airways Ltd of Auckland in March 2008.

Further examples became ZK-JET (c/n 294892 – ex N106AV) on 12 February 2013 and ZK-WBD (c/n 395190) to Jetflights Wanaka on 7 March 2016, being operated on local flights from that time, this aircraft being fitted with a Rolls Royce Viper engine and named Screamin Eagle. Other examples are known to have been imported but have not been restored to airworthiness or registered.