Amazing Aircraft: The Aero L-29 Delfín

Before its peaceful dissolution into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the former Central European state Czechoslovakia developed a fully justified reputation for building fine aircraft by starting up a tradition of excellent Czech jet trainers found in the L-29 Delfín (Dolphin), which flew for the first time 57 years ago today on April 5, 1959. Built by Aero Vodochody, the L-29 was Czechoslovakia's first locally designed and built jet aircraft. And it was perhaps one of the finest jet trainers of the Warsaw Pact because of its design and capabilities; the straight wing gave the Delfín very stable handling characteristics and well over 3,600 examples were built between 1963 and 1974.

Aero L-29 Delfín (N7149E) on display at the Tillamook Air Museum in 2013. This particular model was one of several brought to the United States from Indonesia in 1988. This airframe has since been relocated to the Erickson Aircraft Collection in Madras, Oregon.

Given the NATO reporting name Maya, the L-29 came to be when the Soviet Air Force sought a jet-powered replacement for their piston-engined trainer aircraft; the requirement set by the Soviet Air Force soon broadened so that the potential aircraft could be adopted as the common jet trainer for all Eastern Bloc air forces and Aero Vodochody responded. The first prototype XL-29 was powered by a British Bristol Siddeley Viper engine. The second prototype was powered by the Czech-designed M701 engine, which would be the standard powerplant in all subsequent aircraft. In a 1961 evaluation, the Czechoslovakian jet was pitted against Poland's PZL TS-11 Iskra and the Soviet Yakovlev Yak-30; the L-29 was declared the winner. Regardless of the results, Poland decided to stick with TS-11 as their primary jet trainer anyways while the rest of the Warsaw Pact countries adopted the L-29 for the role under an economic organization agreement called the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON). Production of the Delfín began in 1963 and ran until 1974, an 11 year run.

Australian-registered Aero L-29 Delfín (VH-XET) nicknamed "Miss Independence" at the 2014 Reno Air Races.

Front profile view of the L-29.

As a trainer aircraft, the L-29 seated two pilots in tandem, a student in the front and an instructor in the back with a slightly raised position to see everything the student sees, a common standard for any tandem trainer aircraft. Both student pilot and instructor had ejection seats under separate canopies. Once qualified in the L-29, pilots would become eligible to progress into Soviet fighters of its time such as the MiG-15 and MiG-21.

Aero L-29 Delfín (N179EP) in a Soviet Arctic-camouflage livery at the 2013 Reno Air Races.

As the mainstay of the Warsaw Pact training fleets (with the Soviet Union alone taking delivery of more than 2,000 Delfíns), the L-29 proved cheap and easy to use, and was capable of operating from poorly developed and even grass airfields. Underwing pylons could carry small rockets, guns, or light bombs for armament practice training and if needed, the L-29 can operate as a light ground attack aircraft. Since the collapse of communism, the Delfín has been slowly phased out of former Eastern Bloc Air Forces and replaced by the L-29's successor, the Aero L-39 Albatros, to some degree. However, the Mali Air Force reportedly still operates a limited number of L-29s. Since being phased out mostly from military service and becoming surplus, the L-29 Delfín has since become a popular jet warbird in the warbird community due to its low operational cost and high reliability for a jet. Many airframes still fly to this day in private hands and even a small handful of them constantly participate in the Jet Class of the Reno Air Races against similar jet warbirds such as the L-39, TS-11 Iskra, Lockheed T-33, Fouga Magister, SIAI-Marchetti, De Havilland Vampire, etc. During the September 2008 Reno Air Races, two L-29s took first and second place respectively. Both L-29s consistently posted laps at or above 500 miles per hour. Former Astronaut Curt Brown took first place in "Viper," followed by Red Bull racer, the late-Mike Mangold in "Euroburner."

Curt Brown's Aero L-29 Delfín (N29AD) "Viper," the jet that took first place in 2008 on static display at the 2009 Reno Air Races. 

Mike Mangold's Aero L-29 Delfín (N129SH) "Euroburner,"the jet that took second place in 2008 participating at the 2009 Reno Air Races.

Forward-fuselage section of a modified L-29C Delfín (N37KF) on display at the 2013 Reno Air Races known as "Raju Grace."

Two L-29s racing in the Jet Class Silver Division heat race during the 2015 Reno Air Races.

Let's wish this old jet a happy 57th birthday! The L-29 Delfín may not be the most well-known jet warbird and probably often underappreciated by many. But those who do fly one privately and in air racing surely do have a great deal of appreciation, respect, and admiration for it because of its qualities as a jet trainer: stable, simple, and rugged.