The trainer made to replace the Dolphin The Czechoslovakian L-39 Albatross jet trainer was designed to replace the L-29 Dolphin. The L-39ZO was the armed fighter version. The Hungarian Army introduced 20 models, which served between 1995 and 2009. The model was not given a NATO reporting name. This time we were not with the Warsaw Pact The prototype of the L-39, developed in the Czechoslovakian Aero Vodochody airplane factory was first flown in 1968. Between 1972 and 1994 a total of 2,796 models were produced. From the beginning of the 1970s, the Albatross became the Warsaw Pact's members standard trainer. The Hungarian People's Army did not use the plane, because training was given on the two seat MiG-21UM after the Dolphin was retired. Hungary only adopted it after the regime change The Hungarian Air Force received 24 ZO type L-39s from East Germany in 1993. 20 of these planes were introduced into service, the remaining 4 served as parts. A Hungarian-marked L-39 first flew on March 3, 1994. The ZO types had weapon attachment points beneath the wings and were therefore able to attack ground targets too. Hungary received the planes without weapons, so they used SZ-5 rockets launched from UB-16 blocks left over from the MiG-21 reserves. The planes were stationed at the airfield in Kecskemét. The model was retired from service in 2009. A farewell event was held in Kecskemét on November 25, 2009. The model on display was manufactured in Czechoslovakia in 1977; serial number: ZD-731018.