The first and the only L-39 trainer jet was overhauled and upgraded for Ukrainian Air Force in Odesa this year, reports Dumskaia.

It is reported that this year the works are carried out only on one aircraft due to the late approval of the state defense order.

Test test flight of L-39 coded “01” started today and the aircraft took off at 10:41.

The flight duration was one hour, then the aircraft landed on the runway of Odesa airport, where the state enterprise “Odesa Aviation Plant” is located.

According to previous plans for 2022, the company was supposed to repair four L-39 trainer jets for Ukrainian Air Force.

The possibility of overhauling few more L-39ZAs aircraft belonging to Bulgarian Air Force is still under consideration.

However, it is not yet known whether these plans will be implemented, so the factory staff is still waiting for representatives of Ukrainian Air Force to receive the only aircraft this year.

Aero L-39 Albatros is a Czech-made training aircraft in service in a number of countries, including Ukraine.

Throughout 2021 the Air Force Command ordered the repair of seven AI-25TLSH engines used on L-39 aircraft in several tenders:

• In May for overhaul of 4 engines in the amount of UAH 18.228.000.
• In October for repair of 2 engines in the amount of UAH 4.566.965.
• In November for repair of 1 engine in the amount of UAH 452.159.

This year, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense plans to deliver an L-39ZA light attack aircraft to Ukraine from the national Air Force.

By the order of the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces dated April this year, the aircraft was declared unserviceable due to an engine malfunction.