After 15 years service, and the goodbye flight closed a period in the Hungarian military aviation. The last 8 Albatros with a ceremonial flight & display say goodbye to the Hungarian pilots, mechanics and aviation enthusiast on 2009. November 25th on the HDF 59th Szentgyörgyi Dezsö AFB (Kecskemet LHKE). Defence Minister Imre Szekeres and general László Tömböl HDF Chief of Staff greeted the crew.

On the last flight one An-26, 3 L-39ZO Albatros, 2 MiG-29B, 2 JAS39 EBS HU C Gripen, and an L159B Alca. Firstly the Alca show a display, after parade formations flew across over the base:

1, L-39 and An-26
2, L-39 and MiG-29
3, L-39 and MiG-29
4, Four L-39 in formation

The L-39ZO Albatros last formation in Hungarian Air Force colours(photo from honvedelem.hu):



After te last flight, the "Albas"( 136, 128, 119 Cápeti II.) rolled in front of the hangars and stopped the engine. Lt-Col. Géza Takács commander of the Dongó Sqn reported to the Defence Minister: ,,Sir, I report the L-39ZO trainer aircraft completed shes last flight!"

24 Albatros arrived in 1993, they were a present of the German Air Force. They were ex. East-German aircrafts. HUNAF operate them from 1994-2009. The first landed on Szolnok LHSN in 1994. April 20th . The last Albatroses will fly until 2010.June 30th . On the type flew 120 pilot, the aircrafts spent 13 000 hours in flight. For the last flight they received "1994-2009" stripe on the fuselage.

What will the fate of these aircrafts?

In the 1990s 10 withdrawed and sold, 2 crashed 1995. July 25th crew: Maj. Molnár Gyula , 1st Lt. Németh János , 2008. June 20th near Fehérgyarmat crew: 1st Lt.Zoltán Ignácz †, Lt-Col. Janicsek András †.

Now remained 8 L-39. One will preserved at Zrínyi Miklos National Defence University Aircraft Mechanical Centre for educational aim, one will preserved in HUNAF Aviation Museum at MH 86th ittebei Kiss Jozsef Helicopter Base - Szolnok LHSN, one will stored and preserve at Kecskemet LHKE airbase in the HDF Aircraft Repair Plant. The other five will be sold, but till is preserved and stored at HDF 59th Szentgyörgyi Dezsö AFB Kecskemet LHKE.


More information need?

Here are som useful link from the L-39ZO Albatros withdrawal ceremony and from the aircrafts:

http://www.honvedelem.hu/cikk/0/17340/l39_bucsurepules_kecskemet.html - photos and a video from the event

http://www.jetfly.hu/rovatok/repules/katonai/tipusok/game_over_albatros/ photos from the event

http://www.freeweb.hu/horac/talalat.php?GTA=t406 http://www.freeweb.hu/horac/rajztalalat.php?Tipusazon=406&kEgyszerusitett=N - every Albatros in the HUNAF with cn and other info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_L-39_Albatros - L-39 Albatros


There are some great photo about these nice aircrafts, I so unhappy because I saw them fly till June 30th, and never again!

http://www.airfighters.com/photosearch.php?cra=1639&for=56

View large    View medium Photo © Radim Spalek

#136#

View large    View medium Photo © Zdenek Ondracek

Cápoli

View large    View medium Photo © Zdenek Ondracek

Cápeti II

View large    View medium Photo © Jörg Pfeifer

Zümi

Future?

HUNAF will buy 14 new aircraft in the near future for trainer aircraft. Now at Kecskemet LHKE a L-159B Alca stationed 2 years ago. There are two possibility: 1, buy Alca
2, buy Gripen
3, buy both aircraft

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_L-159_ALCA - L-159 Alca

View large    View medium Photo © Milan Nykodym

L-159A

View large    View medium Photo © Karl Drage

L-159B

View large    View medium Photo © Milan Nykodym

L-159T1 Albatros II

View large    View medium Photo © Joerg Amann

JAS-39 EBS HU C Gripen

View large    View medium Photo © kristof stuer

JAS-39 EBS HU D Gripen

Gripen Demonstrator

flightglobal.com

Nearly sure HUNAF will buy L159T or B Alcas, the only answer the Gripen. The good decision will buy some Gripen too, JAS39 EBS HU C/D Gripen or Demonstrator. The main reason by the Gripen is the MiG-29. MiGs will withdraw from active service in the end of 2010, but a few will fly in 2010. more. Unfortunately I can't go the Albatros withdrawal ceremony, but I will go to Kecskemet for the MiG-29 ceremony.:wink

Also HUNAF wants to buy new freighters instead of An-26 and modernise/helicopters Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-24D,P or buy.

Before L-39 arrived, the pilots trained opn L-29 Delfin till 1986 meanwhile pilots trained in the USSR too. After 1986 pilots trained in Czechslovakia and Slovakia, Kassa/Kosice KSC / LZKZ ). In this time one trainer aircraft crashed, pilots ejected safely.