|
The
PUSHCART |
|
JETSTAR INTERNATIONAL
|
|
The L-29 DELFIN
|
|
Aero L-29 Delfin and Taylorcraft L-2M
|
|
The
Grasshopper |
|
L-2M
|
|
This page is dedicated to two great, but most misunderstood Warbirds.
As owners of JETSTAR Int'l Inc., we have had the pleasure and honor to restore, operate and fly these two fine aircraft.
The L-29 Delfin is as different to the L-2M as a Piper Cub is to an F-15. The most they have in common is the fact that both fly and are Ex-Warbirds. The L-
29's came out of the Soviet Bloc and the little o'l L-2M came from the USA in 1943. The L-29's we have were manufactured from 1964-1973.
Both seat tandem and were used primarily as a trainer. The L-29 is a jet and was used for both basic and advanced training, including bombing, strafing
and rocket air to ground. |
|
L-29R N29SV
|
|
The L-29 was also produced in an "R" version. The "R" or "RS"
was used as a recon bird. The rear set of controls were removed and a camera operator station was installed. A belly and nose camera were installed along with tip tanks rather than of the typical underwing drop tanks. Most of the 34 or so L-29R models (of which more than 1/2 are in the USA) have had the rear seat conversion. The cameras are removed along with the controls and are replaced with a full set of flight controls and instruments. We have all the controls needed for the rear conversion; however, have chosen not to do so.
Our L-29R remains as it did in the Czech Air Force with the
exception of the belly camera itself. The nose camera is intact as is the gun site. There is still film in the camera! |
|
Nose Camera
35 MM Film
|
|
L-29R
(Reconaissance) |
|
We purchased ours from a Colonel in the Czech Air Force. It
was for his use only and he kept it hangered. The two Air Force technicians, Evo and Karl, who serviced it there, came to Frederick and put 29SV back together for our use. The airplane was well cared for. Our planes were test flown by a good friend and Czech Test Pilot, Frank Hlavnicka. Frank came to Frederick once the Czech tech's were finished re-assembly and the planes were certified. Frank was in the Second Czech Air Force Class to start out in and fly the L-29C's, sometime around 1964. |
|
Evo & Karl
|
|
L-29C Disassembled
from shipping
|
|
Col Frank Hlavnicka
Czech Air Force Test and
Demonstration Pilot and A Super Nice Guy! |
|
Frank is also a demonstration pilot. He flys the Mig 21 and other
aircraft such as the L-39 Albatross, the latter version of the L-29. Frank is a great pilot and has a lot of good advice to offer not to mention he has a wonderful sense of humor. |
|
Frank said that they call the L-29 "The Pushcart", due to the tail (T-
tail) arrangement and the fact that is is not the quickest of steeds. The name seems to fit and is comical. |
|
The L-29C is a great flying craft as well. More than
3000 of these birds were produced, the bulk going to the Soviets. The "C" model was used for training green pilots and was the first Jet aircraft they were exposed to.
The "C" was also used as a instrument trainer as well
as Ground attack. The armament included two practice concrete bombs, one at each hard point or 7.62 machine gun pods and or rocket tubes mounted at the hard points. The rocket tubes have a capacity of four rockets per pod. There is no air to air capabilities.
The armament are available, however they must be
disabled before shipping. The ATF has no sens of humor, so it's best to take care of them before they reach the country! Remember you can't fly from behind bars. |
|
Frank in L-39,
Frederick, 1995 |