Eagle Dynamics and The Fighter Collection have released the DCS: L-39 Albatros for pre-purchase on the DCS e-shop for $39.99. Currently the price is 20% off and will remain so until this September when it will sell for $49.99.
The L-39 Albatros is a low-wing, high-performance jet aircraft that doubles as a trainer and light attack aircraft. The Albatros was developed in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s to replace older L-29 jet trainers. Powered by an Ivchenko AI-25TL turbofan engine, the L-39 has a top speed of Mach 0.80, a service ceiling of 11,000 m (36,100 feet), and can pull up to 8 G. Although primarily used as a trainer and light attack aircraft, the L-39 has also become popular with several aerial acrobatics demonstration teams.
Being a trainer aircraft, the L-39C has a tandem cockpit with the student in front and the instructor in the back. The instructor has several controls to mimic system failures to test the student. The L-39C also has two underwing pylons for bombs, rockets and close range air-to- air missiles. For decades, the L-39 was used by nations around the world to train pilots that later went on to fly aircraft like the MiG-29 and Su-27.
Today there have been more than 2,800 L-39s serving around the world with the Albatros being the most used jet trainer in existence. Over the years four variants of the L-39 have been produced:
- L-39C Aircraft for basic and advanced jet training
- L-39V Single-seat aircraft for target towing
- L-39ZO Training aircraft with extended weapon practice capabilities-four underwing hardpoints
- L-39ZA Training and multipurpose light attack aircraft with underfuselage gun pod with four underwing hardpoints.
A fifth variant has also been produced in limited numbers – the L-39MS. While externally the MS appears to be a typical L-39, the airframe, engine, control, APU, and various other equipment are different.
The L-39 Albatros model which you can buy for DCS is closely modeled after the famous aircraft and features:
- Professional Flight Model that accurately mimics the performance and flight characteristics of this legendary trainer
- Highly detailed, six-degrees-of-freedom (6 DOF) cockpit
- Interact with cockpit controls with your mouse
- Fully modelled weapon system
- Accurate L-39C model with correct country markings
- Detailed modelling of the L-39 instruments, weapons, engine, radios, fuel, electrical and hydraulic systems
- Fly from either the front seat or back seat
- Planned cooperative multiplayer in the same aircraft (not available at release)
- Two versions of aircraft: L-39C that will be available in the initial beta and L-39ZA that will be later