I’ve seen this film countless times by now, and it’s definitely a favourite (No.3 in my top 10!).

Why, oh why, could the writer of Pearl Harbor not come up with something that was half as good, storyline-wise, as this?? I mean, come on!! They had TWENTY TIMES the budget, masses more resources… But what do we get??

Yet, here’s this Czech director, who has a $5million budget, TWO genuine Spitfires, a few Battle of Britain out-takes; his dad writes the story, and comes up with something more deep and meaningful, and a lot more touching than the bigger budget affair!!

:rolleyes:

There is much more better and impresive Czech film about Czech pilots in GB – Nebeští jezdci/Riders in the Sky. It´s very strong, from 1968 ( time of temporary freedom in Czechoslovakia) and made only with one Li-2 rebuilt as Welington and several old Li-2 of Czechoslovak Air force

actually it´s Li-2 with wood fuselage – dummy Welington (take a look at the dark stripe next to the propeller – dummy wood fuselage is too wide:) this “Welington” had functional engines and can taxi but not fly

And one model of the thing in 1/72 done by myself circa one year ago.

very nice, but unfortunately all national symbols are wrong – wrong appearance, position, size. Blue part must be horizontally the first, link between white and red must be strictly horizontal, white parts of the symbols on the wings must be outside and red inside (opposite to your model case).
take a look at this

L159A carried colour symbols only short time and much more smaller than on your model

Rumcajs, read this article on the L-159 offer to the IAF. the parameters of the L-159B on offer were considered a good match to the requirements and hence the IAF took a look at it and it was offered cheaper than the BAe Hawk.. IAF only began to look at the L-159 AFTER price negotiations with BAe over the Hawk had already ended, basically to prevent a single vendor situation.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021231/edit.htm#4

“Having completed the PNC on the Hawk, the IAF added a postscript: that the Czech L159B should also be evaluated to get out of the single vendor situation. The IAF also believes that since it has waited for 20 years for the AJT, it can wait some more and should not rush into the Hawk deal which is a technology of the 1980s and instead get a contemporary machine for the same price. There is also a view that it is simply absurd to purchase and license-manufacture a trainer when the LCA project is near fruition. An LCA trainer is also an option.

Earlier, Italy, Brazil and Russia had also offered jet trainers to India but these offers had been rejected on the ground that the aircraft did not meet the Air Staff Requirement (ASR) of the IAF. An earlier offer of the Czech trainer had elicited a similar response.

However, two things changed this year. On the sidelines of the CII-organised Defexpo 2002 in February, Mr Antonin Jakubse, Chairman of the Czech state-owned aircraft facility, Aero Vodochody, said: “We are offering the Indians a joint partnership, technology transfer and joint marketing for the L 159B.” At a Press conference he asserted that the Czech AJT offer was 25 to 45 per cent lower than the British Aerospace price for the Hawk.

He also said the Czech training aircraft was backed by the American aviation giant Boeing, which has brought 35 per cent stake in Aero Vodochody.

Also, some time in mid-May 2002, an IAF team led by Group Captain Ramesh Rai, which included representatives from HAL, the MoD and the Finance Ministry visited Czechoslovakia, test flew the aircraft and reported that the L 159 B did, in fact, meet 95 per cent of the ASR for the AJT. But what is not known is that the IAF team flew just 12 sorties on a makeshift version of a two-seater. This was not the L 159 B but actually the very first prototype. The actual L 159 trainer only flew at the Farnborough air show in June this year for the first time. The added attraction is that the Czechs have agreed to a full transfer of technology and delivery of the first aircraft within two years of signing the contract.

Although there is no doubt that the cost of the two aircraft is competitive – the L 159 B will cost around $ 12.5 million apiece while the Hawk is said to be pegged at $14 million apiece — there is no clarity on how the government will overcome the danger that American defence technology represents for India. The case of supply of spares for the Sea King, which was manufactured by the UK under licence from the USA, is a case in point. After the Pokhran tests the supply was suspended after the sanctions and was cleared only a month ago. The L 159 B has American avionics and power plant (engine).”

“But the strangest episode of the AJT drama unfolded in the third week of October when the IAF instituted yet another technical committee to make a relative evaluation of this aircraft with the Hawk. Within 10 days, the relatively low level-team reported that the “engine and avionics of the L 159 B were both superior to those of the Hawk”, which is seen as completely perverted and irrelevant when, firstly, the avionics are to be largely Indian or French supplied (specifically avoiding American) and when the engine of the Hawk (the Adour) is currently being built by HAL for the ongoing Jaguar production.”

thanx for the article and info, 21Ankush.

Nigeria to buy L-159 subsonic fighters from Czech air force

Nigeria is considering buying around a dozen Czech-made L-159A subsonic fighters to revitalise its aging air force, the Prague Post reported this week. The deal is yet to be finalised, but Defence Ministry officials said Nigeria was definitely interested in buying more than ten of the aircraft. President Vaclav Klaus reportedly discussed the deal this week with his Nigerian counterpart Olusegun Obasanjo.

source http://www.radio.cz/en/

the first L159T1 for Czech Air Force

L159T1 and L159B

Which of those two cannon pod types is actually in service on Czech ALCA’s?

Is the other pod just for exports?

What about Eastern weapons integration. Can weapons like R-60, R-73, and Kh-25 be carried?

Czech Air Force uses only Plamen pod, Giat is “only” Aero alternative offer for foreign clients

as I said, no eastern weapons are adopted for L159 at this time

Thanks for the additional details on the cannon pod as well as the great links!

Where do you find all this great stuff?

I love the weapons pictures sepecially. Is that laser-guided bomb a 500-lb. GBU-12 or 1,000-lb. GBU-16? I assume the L-159 can carry up to four of either because I know the four main wing pylons (not counting the two outboard AAM rails) can carry loads of over 1,000 pounds each, but I can’t tell which type of bomb it specifically is?

The cannon pod is also interesting. Can you tell me more about how it is aimed? What types of shells can it fire?

Also, what is that large red container on the centerline of the L-159B in the airshow photo and what are the two other stores under the starboard wing?

Interesting to see the AIM-9X in that photo….Are helmet sights a capability for the L-159?

Sorry for all the questions, but I find this airplane fascinating.

the photos are scanned by me from several Czech magazines, and downloaded from several Czech wesides:)

more weapons
AMRAAM

CBU-87/97 with wings and GPS navigation

the first L159 demonstrator with weapons

some more weapons

brimstones and TIALD laser marker (the white container I don´t know)

VICON reconnaissance pod

L-159B with another frontal part for laser markers or optic equipment

further weapons, APOLLO pod, TIALD, Brimstone, Grifo-L radar
http://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=skenogghdgdvat0001ba0.jpg
http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=s0001mr3.jpg
http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=skehgnovat0001kx8.jpg

yes, there are GBU-12 and 16 Paveway II laser guided versions of Czech Air Force. Carry capability of L159A is 2500-2700 kg maximally and four main pylons can carry up to 500kg each (central as well)

Central pylon is created mainly for Plamen cannon pod carrying, or reconnaissance pods or markers. What I have heard there is some small special instrument for aiming immediatelly after hanging at the pylon and it´s done in a few minutes. What types of shells? Any NATO standard 20mm shells.

I don´t know the red container but I guess it´s transport container for baggage and some equipment. Under wing is Giat 20mm gun pod (black) and again the same for me unknown container as on the picture with brimstones and tiald ( I guess some reconnaissance pod or pod for electronic warfare or training pod)

I know nothing about helmet sight of L159, Czech air force hasn´t helmet sight even in gripen at this time, but Aero and Czech government have signed contract and plan of the L159 modernisation in 2006 ( so I guess helmet sight will be standard as well as air-refueling stick etc)

some more pictures

L159 system has even special platform for field airport service

L159 the first demonstrator and testing plane

http://img442.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0244878lp2.jpg%5D

the first L159A prototype

L159B Albatros II

with giat 20mm
http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=letadla00314hw0.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=letadla00317ja3.jpg

CzAF L159A cockpit detail
http://img181.imageshack.us/my.php?image=letadla00409vw7.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=n7nw6.jpg

ZPL-20 “Plamen” (in English it means “Flame”) details
http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=o6hc9.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=o8py6.jpg
http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1012093tr3.jpg

Czech made VS-2A/B eject seat 0/0 specification (pilot even can eject himselve safety in 150m flying height during the flight on the back
http://img405.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p9102037yb3.jpg

PTL-159 ejecting trainer
http://img405.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ptl159fs2.jpg

rear cockpit of L159B
http://img405.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zadnikokpitiw9.jpg

L159 weapon testing videos
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/l159eccm.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/escape.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/maverick2.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/crv7.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/sraam2.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/plamen1.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/lgb2.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/bsu49.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/maverick1.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/trava.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/cbu87.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/pristani.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/lgb1.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/sraam.mpg
http://www.atmonline.cz/video/maverick.mpg

And… Aero is preparing the development of L-159 with Ukrainian engine and France/EU electronic equipment mainly for Asia market and starting the production of new Ae-270. For example in India BAe Hawk won even thouht the fact that L159B was evaluated as better and more suitable than Hawk but US equipment in L159 was the main reason for Indian refusal.

BWT some Czech L159A pilots have shot down a F-16 and F-18 during several NATO exercises and for example Belgian and Dutch pilots practise air to air combat against Czech gripens and ALCAs regularly as well.

Ae-270 IBIS
http://www.sme.sk/cdata/2611462/20060228003_Ae270_big.jpg
http://img90.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ae270okina18122006st2.jpg
http://img443.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ae270okina181220063zg4.jpg

BWT:)correct name is L159A ALCA and L159B Albatros II, not L-159A or L-159B. L-39 Albatros, L-29 Delfín but L159A ALCA:)