The legendary Aero L-39 Albatros flew into the watch, took off on a silver coin and painted itself pink

Vodochody, 12 December 2024 – The legend of the domestic aviation industry, the L-39 Albatros from the Aero workshops, is still enjoying worldwide attention. Around 700 aircraft are still in civil and military service. Beyond its original use, the Albatros also appears in other diverse roles in advertising, art and popular culture.

“The L-39 Albatros is one of the legendary and highly successful jet trainers. It is the forerunner of our new modern L-39 Skyfox, which builds on it in versatility, reliability, and low operating costs. The Albatros is still used by air forces around the world for basic and advanced pilot training and combat missions. However, over decades of service, it has transcended its original purpose and has penetrated into the realms of art, culture and marketing,” says Victor Sotona, Chairman of the Board and President of Aero, adding: “I like to compare the Albik to the Porsche 911, which has personified a unique and timeless sports car for more than 60 years. And what the Porsche 911 is to car fans, the L-39 Albatros is to the aviation world. I am confident that its successor, the L-39 Skyfox, will leave the same indelible aeronautical mark as it gradually establishes itself on the world aviation map as an ideal and comprehensive platform for modern fighter pilot training.”

The L-39 Albatros has made its mark not only in a number of films, but has also appeared in many interesting recent projects.

The pink symbol of hope: Albatros in the fight against cancer
One project that has gained worldwide attention is The Pink Jet, which has transformed the L-39 Albatros into a pink symbol of the fight against breast cancer. Thanks to the Aerial Angels volunteer initiative and the support of partners, the aircraft underwent a complete refurbishment and was unveiled for the first time at the prestigious EAA AirVenture 2024. The project attracted attention not only for its striking visuals, but also for the inspiring story of pilot Stephanie Goetz, the first woman in the cockpit of this aircraft.

The aircraft on a silver coin: The memory of the L-39 Albatros
The Czech National Bank is issuing a series of silver commemorative coins with a face value of CZK 500 dedicated to iconic means of transport. One of the highlights of the series will be a coin featuring the iconic Aero L-39 Albatros aircraft. Nine artists participated in the competition for its design. The winner was the academic sculptor Zbyněk Fojtů. His design impressed the jury with a precise depiction of the aircraft in motion on the reverse side and an original view of the dashboard with an altimeter. The coin, which will offer a transparent element, will be issued in June 2025 and will be a real gem for collectors and aviation enthusiasts.

Albatross as the main prize in the competition
Collaborations with bold brands such as Liquid Death confirm the L-39’s ability to appeal to a younger audience. Albatros recently shone in a bold marketing campaign for the company, which is renowned for its unconventional promotions. Liquid Death has even offered a real FAA-certified L-39 Albatros as the grand prize in a consumer contest for 2024 – aptly named “Dehydrator.”

Time flies in style.
The Robot brand from Nové Město nad Metuji brings to the market the ROBOT Albatros watch, which pays tribute to the iconic Aero L-39 aircraft. This precisely crafted pilot’s watch combines Czech technical tradition with modern design. It offers an eight-day power reserve, water resistance to 100 metres and unique details such as a dial inspired by the aircraft’s dashboard or an engraved drawing of the Albatros. The model is made from premium 904L steel and completed with a stylish textile strap.

Astronaut training with Lewis Hamilton
The L-39 Albatros aircraft indirectly appeared in a campaign by watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen. In the film, which premieres on June 15, 2025, top rider Lewis Hamilton undergoes astronaut flight training under the guidance of John “Slick” Baum. The training includes manoeuvres simulating high overload and weightlessness, with Hamilton reaching up to 7.5g – more than the astronauts did during the rocket launch. The film combines cutting-edge aviation with the luxury watchmaking tradition.

Housing close to Albatross
The name and identity of Skanska Residential’s Albatros Kbely residential project was inspired by the legendary L-39 Albatros trainer aircraft, which can be seen in the nearby hangar of the Kbely Aviation Museum. The theme of aviation permeates not only the public space, but also the apartment buildings themselves. They bear names inspired by the international spelling alphabet, which is an essential part of aviation communication.

AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. focuses on the development, production, maintenance and modernisation of civil and military aircraft and is the largest aircraft manufacturer in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest aircraft manufacturers in the world. In the field of its own aircraft, Aero is a permanent partner of a number of military air forces and has a strong position in the market for military trainer and light combat aircraft. With 11,000 aircraft produced in its 100 years of existence, hundreds of L-39 Albatros aircraft still in service with dozens of military operators and a number of demo teams, and especially with its new L-39NG aircraft, Aero has established itself as a leader in the global jet trainer market. In the civil aviation sector, Aero works with major aircraft manufacturers on a wide range of projects and is a partner in several risk-sharing programmes, where it is responsible not only for the manufacture and assembly of aircraft assemblies, but also for their development.

Contact:
Radka Černá, PR & Communications Manager
Email: radka.cerna@aero
Phone: +420 608 974 258
Website: www.aero.cz

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