Aero (2) L-29 Delfin
The Aero L-29 Delfin was the Warsaw Pact's first purpose-built jet trainer, selected in 1961 over Polish and Soviet rivals in a fly-off and then built in the thousands for the Soviet Union and its allies. Its straight, mid-mounted wing and simple, rugged single turbojet made it forgiving for cadets making their first jet flights, while its wide-track landing gear tolerated the rough grass strips many Eastern Bloc air forces still used. After Warsaw Pact service ended, hundreds of surplus Delfins were exported to Western owners, and it remains a common sight on the civilian jet warbird circuit today, prized as a relatively affordable entry-level jet.
Did you know?
The Warsaw Pact's first purpose-built jet trainer, with a straight mid-mounted wing and simple turbojet, now a common affordable sight on the civilian warbird circuit.
Specifications
| Length | 10.8 m (35 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 10.2 m (33 ft) |
| Height | 3.1 m (10 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 3.5 t |
| Range | 950 NM (1,759 km) |
| Service ceiling | 36,000 ft (10,973 m) |
| Rate of climb | 2,700 ft/min (13.7 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 1,000 m (3,281 ft) |
| Landing distance | 900 m (2,953 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 1,500 l |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
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