# Aero Vodochody

Aero Vodochody (commonly referred to as Aero) is a Czech aircraft company. Its main production facilities are located at Vodochody Airport in the Prague-East District, on the municipal territories of Vodochody and Odolena Voda.
During the Cold War era, the firm was well known for its range of jet-powered trainer aircraft, the L-29 Delfin and L-39 Albatros. It also developed derivatives of the L-39, the L-59 Super Albatros and the L-159 Alca military light combat jet. Aero Vodochody is believed to have handled the biggest aircraft industrial programme to take place across any of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) countries except for the Soviet Union itself. Following the fall of the communist government in Czechoslovakia during 1989, Aero Vodochody experienced a disruptive period of business, having lost a major portion of the market for its jet trainers. Sales noticeably declined during the 1990s in Eastern Europe as well as in NATO countries as a result of the peace dividend.
Between 1998 and 2004, Aero Vodochody was controlled by the American aerospace company Boeing. During October 2006, the company was privatised once again, being bought by Czech-Slovak investment group Penta Investments for roughly 3 billion CZK. Aero Vodochody continues to manufacture both whole aircraft and aerostructures for the aerospace industry. During the 2014 Farnborough Airshow, it announced the launch of the Aero L-39 Skyfox, an upgraded and modernised version of its ubiquitous L-39.
In year 2021 Penta Investments sold their business share to the HSC Aerojet Zrt.

## History

Aero Vodochody has been active since its founding in 1919. Between 1929 and 1951, its subsidiary, Aero, manufactured a range of small and medium-sized cars with two-stroke engines, it also briefly produced the Škoda 150 truck between 1946 and 1947 under licence.
During the 1950s, Aero Vodochody developed the L-29 Delfin trainer aircraft; it was Czechoslovakia's first indigenously designed jet-powered aircraft. The L-29 is believed to have likely been the biggest aircraft industrial programme to take place across any of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) countries except for the Soviet Union itself. During the course of the programme, in excess of 3,000 L-29s were produced; of these, around 2,000 were reported to have been delivered to the Soviet Union, where it served as the standard trainer for the Soviet Air Force. Of the others, which included both armed and unarmed models, many aircraft were delivered to the various COMECON countries while others were exported to various overseas nations, including Egypt, Syria, Indonesia, Nigeria and Uganda. Reportedly, the type has been used in active combat during several instances, perhaps the most high-profile being the Nigerian Civil War of the late 1960s and of Egyptian L-29s against Israeli tanks during the brief Yom Kippur War of 1973.
The L-39 Albatros was designed during the 1960s as a replacement for the Aero L-29 Delfín as a principal training aircraft. Several specialised variants of the base L-39 design were quickly introduced. In 1972, a purpose-built target tug variant, the L-39V, conducted its initial flight. During 1975, the first L-39ZO training/light combat model, which was equipped with four underwing hardpoints as well as a strengthened wing and modified landing gear, performed its first flight. In 1977, the first L-39ZA light combat variant, which was fitted with a single Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 cannon mounted underneath the fuselage in addition to the four hardpoints and strengthening of the L-39ZO, made its maiden flight. According to aerospace publication Flight International, roughly 200 L-39s were being sold each year upon the jet trainer market during the late 1980s. Sales of the L-39 declined during the 1990s. This downturn has been attributed to the loss of the captive Warsaw Pact trainer market, to which a substantial proportion of the total aircraft manufactured had been historically sold to; allegations about Czechoslovak banks being unable to finance the defense industry and inaction on the part of the Czechoslovak government; and concerns over the quality of manufacturing standards. During 1996, production of the L-39 was terminated.
Aero Vodochody has developed several improved variants of the L-39 to take its place, and has continued extensive support and overhaul operations for existing L-39 customers. The L-59 Super Albatros was derived from the L-39, being originally designated as the L-39MS. Aero only produced a handful of L-59s before discontinuing production. Another derivative of the L-39 Albatros was the L-159 Alca, a modernised combat-oriented version. Originally, Aero Vodochody had intended to develop the L-159 in partnership with Elbit, but the Czech Ministry of Defense instead selected Rockwell Collins to partner on the program.
During the 2010s, Aero Vodochody was engaged in the manufacture of the L-159 advanced light combat aircraft and the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter. It has also an active presence in the aerostructures sector, producing the center wing box of the Alenia C-27J Spartan airlifter, door subassemblies for the Embraer 170 and Embraer 190 airliners, the cockpit of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, gun bay doors for the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter, subassemblies and various elements of the Airbus A320 family airliner, and fixed leading edge kits for the Boeing 767 airliner. The company is reportedly likely to upgrade the runway at its Vodochody Airport near Prague to international airport standards, allowing it to better serve the low-cost air carriers and charter flights that service Prague.
During July 2014, Aero Vodochody presented the L-39NG (Skyfox) programme at the Farnborough Airshow. By April 2015, a partnership had formed between Aero Vodochody, American defence contractor Draken International and engine manufacturer Williams International to undertake the programme and to properly prepare the L-39NG to compete on the North American market. The L-39NG is being developed and marketed in two stages. The L-39NG upgrade program (Stage 1) contains an installation of FJ44-4M engine and optionally the Stage 2 avionics to existing L-39 Albatros. The second phase (Stage 2) represents newly built L-39NG aircraft with the possible use of components from the previous upgrade to Stage 1, once the original airframe reaches the end of its life. The first stage was formally completed om 14 September 2015 with the maiden flight of the L-39NG technology demonstrator (L-39CW). On 20 November 2017, Aero Vodochody announced the completion of development of the L-39CW; on 14 March 2018, they announced that the L-39CW, equipped with both the new engine and the new avionics, had received type certification. The brand new L-39NG aircraft made first flight on December 22, 2018. in September 2020, less than two years later, the aircraft was certified by the Military Aviation Authority of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic.
In September, 2021, Aero Vodochody sale transaction was successfully completed. Based on an agreement signed in July 2021 Hungarian company HSC Aerojet Zrt. became the 100% owner of Aero. In HSC Aerojet Zrt. majority is held by Hungarian businessman Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and minority is held by Czech company OMNIPOL a.s. The sale also included Vodochody Airport.

## Aircraft

| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
| Aero Ae 01 | 1919 | 35 | Single engine biplane trainer; Hansa-Brandenburg B.I built under license |
| Aero Ae 02 | 1920 | 1 | Single engine biplane fighter |
| Aero Ae 03 | | 1 | Single engine monoplane reconnaissance airplane; cancelled while still incomplete |
| Aero Ae 04 | 1921 | | Single engine biplane fighter developed from the Ae 02 |
| Aero A.8 | 1921 | 1 | Single engine biplane airliner |
| Aero A.10 | 1922 | 5 | Single engine biplane airliner |
| Aero A.11 | 1925 | ~250 | Single engine biplane light bomber |
| Aero A.12 | 1923 | 93 | Single engine biplane light bomber |
| Aero A.14 | 1922 | 25 | Single engine biplane reconnaissance airplane |
| Aero A.15 | 1923 | 24 | A.14 with a Hiero L engine |
| Aero DH.50 | 1925 | 7 | Single-engine biplane airliner; de Havilland DH.50 built under license |
| Aero A.16 | | | Single engine biplane night bomber project |
| Aero A.17 | 1922 | | Single-seat glider |
| Aero A.18 | 1923 | 20 | Single engine biplane fighter |
| Aero A.19 | | | Single engine biplane fighter project; cancelled in favor of the A.18 |
| Aero A.20 | 1923 | 1 | Prototype single engine biplane fighter; cancelled in favor of the A.18 |
| Aero A.21 | 1926 | 8 | Single engine biplane night trainer developed from the A.11 |
| Aero A.22 | 1924 | 3 | Single engine biplane utility airplane based on the A.12 |
| Aero A.22 (II) | | | Four engine heavy bomber project (1924) |
| Aero A.23 | 1926 | 7 | Single engine biplane airliner |
| Aero A.24 | 1925 | 1 | Prototype twin engine biplane bomber |
| Aero A.25 | 1925 | 15 | Single engine two-seat biplane day trainer developed from the A.11 |
| Aero A.26 | 1923 | 23 | Single engine biplane reconnaissance airplane |
| Aero A.27 | | | Twin engine biplane bomber project |
| Aero A.27 (II) | | | Twin engine, 12 passenger airliner project |
| Aero A.28 | | | Two-seat trainer |
| Aero A.29 | 1926 | 9 | Single engine biplane reconnaissance floatplane developed from the A.11 |
| Aero A.30 | 1926 | 79 | Single engine biplane light bomber based on the A.11 |
| Aero A.31 | | | Single-seat fighter project |
| Aero A.32 | 1927 | 116 | Single engine, two-seat army co-operation biplane |
| Aero A.33 | | | Three engine, 14 passenger biplane airliner project (1928) |
| Aero A.34 Kos | 1929 | 11 | Single engine biplane sport airplane |
| Aero A.35 | 1928 | 12 | Single engine high-wing monoplane airliner |
| Aero A.36 | | | Three-engine biplane bomber project (1926) |
| Aero A.38 | 1929 | 6 | Single engine, 10 seat biplane airliner |
| Aero A.40 | | | Racing biplane project (1926) |
| Aero A.42 | 1929 | 2 | Single engine, high-wing monoplane bomber |
| Aero A.44 | | | Twin-engine monoplane heavy bomber project (1931) |
| Aero A.46 | 1931 | 1 | Single engine, two-seat biplane trainer |
| Aero A.48 | | | 8-seat, three-engine, high-wing monoplane airliner project (1932) |
| Aero A.49 | | | Two-seat, parasol wing ultralight aircraft; lost to the Letov S-39 |
| Aero A.55 | | | Single-engine ultralight aircraft project |
| Aero A.60 | | | Three-engine, low-wing cantilever monoplane airliner project (1931) |
| Aero A.100 | 1933 | 44 | Single engine, two-seat biplane reconnaissance/light bomber |
| Aero A.101 | 1934 | 50 | Single engine, two-seat biplane reconnaissance/light bomber |
| Aero A.102 | 1934 | 2 | Prototype single engine, single-seat high gull wing monoplane fighter; lost to the Avia B.35 |
| Aero A.104 | 1937 | 2 | Prototype single engine, two-seat parasol wing light bomber monoplane |
| Aero A.125 | | 12 | A.25 with a Breitfield & Danek Perun I engine |
| Aero A.130 | | 1 | Prototype version of A.30 with a Walter-built Bristol Jupiter engine |
| Aero A.134 | 1934 | 1 | Prototype version of A.34 with a Walter NZ 85 radial engine |
| Aero A.200 | 1934 | 2 | Single engine, four-seat low-wing sportsplane |
| Aero MB.200 | 1935 | 74 | Twin-engine monoplane bomber; Bloch MB.200 built under license |
| Aero A.202 | | | Twin-engine, 14 passenger cantilever low-wing monoplane airliner project; rival to Avia 57 |
| Aero A.204 | 1936 | 1 | Prototype twin-engine, 8 passenger low-wing monoplane airliner |
| Aero A.206 | | | Twin-engine monoplane reconnaissance/light bomber based on A.204 |
| Aero A.210 | | | Four-engine airliner project; similar to A.202 |
| Aero A.212 | | | Twin-engine utility aircraft project (1937); Ae 45 precursor but with more conventional appearance |
| Aero A.230 | | 25 | Production version of A.30 |
| Aero A.300 | 1938 | 1 | Twin-engine low-wing medium bomber derived from the A.304 |
| Aero A.302 | | | Two-seat, low-wing fighter/ground attack monoplane project |
| Aero A.304 | 1937 | 19 | Twin-engine monoplane bomber based on A.204 |
| Aero A.321 | | | Attack version of A.32 for Finland |
| Aero A.330 | | | A.30 with Praga ESV engine |
| Aero A.351 | | | A.35 development |
| Aero A.404 | | | Twin-engine monoplane bomber project based on A.304 |
| Aero A.430 | | | Initial designation for the A.100 |
| Aero C-3 | | | Twin-engine monoplane trainer; Siebel Si 204 built under license |
| Aero C-4/C-104 | | | Single-engine biplane trainer; Bücker Bü 131 built under license |
| Aero C-103 | | | Airliner version of C-3 |
| Aero D-44 | | | Military transport variant of C-3 |
| Aero Ae-45 | 1947 | 200 | Twin-engine monoplane utility airplane |
| Aero Ae 50 | 1949 | 1 | Single-engine monoplane reconnaissance airplane |
| Aero Ae-53 | | | High-wing assault glider project (1953) |
| Aero Ae-58 | | | Twin-engine, low-wing 8-12 passenger light transport monoplane project |
| Aero Ae-145 (I) | | | Projected larger five-seat derivative of Ae-45 with Walter Minor 6-III engines and tricycle landing gear (1948-1949) |
| Aero Ae-145 (II) | 1959 | | Version of Ae 45 with supercharged Motorlet M332 engines |
| Aero Ae-148 | | | Twin-engine, 12 passenger airliner project (1949) |
| Aero Ae-245 | | | Ae 145 (II) with a tailwheel; only a project |
| Aero Ae-345 | | | Ae 45 airframe with Walter Minor 6-III engines; only a project |
| LB P-1 | | | Twin engine, low-wing high-speed trainer/courier; development of Hodek HK.101 |
| LB P-3 | | | Assault and training transport glider project; developed into the Ae-53 |
| LB P-16 | | | Four-engine, low-wing medium transport monoplane project (1951) |
| Aero B-34 | | | Low-wing, jet attack aircraft project |
| Aero HC-2 Heli Baby | 1954 | 23 | Single-engine utility helicopter |
| Aero L-60 Brigadýr | 1953 | 273 | Single-engine monoplane utility airplane |
| Aero L-260 | | | High-wing, 10-seat multipurpose aircraft project (1970) |
| Aero L-29 Delfín | 1959 | 3,665 | Single jet engine monoplane trainer |
| Aero L-229 | | | Single-seat light attack version of L-29; only a project |
| Aero L-260 | | | Derivative of L-60 with Praga M-208D engine |
| Aero L-360 | | | Single-engine monoplane utility airplane |
| Aero L-429 | | | Single jet engine monoplane aerobatic airplane |
| Aero S-102 | | 821 | Single-engine jet fighter; Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 built under license |
| Aero S-103 | | 620 | Single-engine jet fighter; Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis built under license |
| Aero S-104 | | | Single-engine jet fighter; Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 built under license |
| Aero S-105 | | 103 | Twin-engine fighter; Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 built under license |
| Aero S-106 | | 194 | Single-engine fighter; Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 built under license |
| Aero L-39 Albatros | 1968 | 2,900 | Single jet engine monoplane trainer |
| Aero L-270 | | | Single engine utility airplane |
| Aero L-59 Super Albatros | 1986 | 71 | Single jet engine monoplane trainer developed from the L-39 |
| Aero Ae 270 Spirit | 2000 | | Single turboprop engine monoplane utility airplane |
| Aero L-159 ALCA | 1997 | 72 | Single jet engine monoplane light attack airplane |
| Aero L-39 Skyfox | 2018 | 5 | Single jet engine monoplane trainer |
| Aero F/A-259 Striker | | | Single jet engine monoplane attack airplane |