Aero L-29 Delfin

By Jakub Fojtík

The Aero L-29 Delfin was Czechoslovakia's first domestically-designed and constructed jet aircraft, in response to a major requirement for a common jet trainer to be adopted across the Eastern Bloc.

First flying in April 1959, the L-29 was selected to become the standard trainer for the air forces of Warsaw Pact nations, for which it was delivered from the 1960s onwards.  In excess of 3,000 L-29 Delfin trainers were produced. Of these, around 2,000 were reported to have been delivered to the Soviet Union, where it was used extensively by the Soviet Air Force.

Many others were exported to various overseas nations, including Egypt, Syria, Indonesia, Nigeria and Uganda. Built in both armed and unarmed versions, the L-29 has been used in active combat in several instances, including the Nigerian Civil War of the late 1960s, and by Egypt against Israeli tanks during the Yom Kippur War of 1973.

This latest Warpaint includes all the usual expertise and research that has made the series the benchmark for aviation reference material. With full history, development, walkaround, and colour artwork and plans, author Jakub Fojtík documents fully this mile-stone in Czech aviation history.