Three L-39 jet trainers from the former Czech republic drew double-takes from motorists south of Iola late Tuesday morning when they landed at Allen County Airport to take on fuel.
One of the pilots told Iolan John McRae the planes picked the local airport for fueling after diverting to avoid a heavy thunderstorm. The jets, looking much like vintage jet fighters, were en route to their home base in El Paso, Texas.
“I was outdoors at home when I saw the jets go over,” obviously meaning to land at the Allen County Airport, McRae recalled. “I went in the house and told Merryl (his wife) we have to get out to the airport.”
McRae has a plane at the airport and always is eager to take in anything to do with aviation.
The pilot told McRae the planes had been doing government contract work with Georgia Tech University, “something to do with radar-jamming tests.”
The jets date to the Cold War era, when they were Warsaw Pact trainers.
Because of the length of runway needed to take off with a full load of fuel, the planes opted for less than a fill-up. On leaving, the planes started quickly from the north end of the runway and streaked out of sight once airborne.
THE L-39, known in Czechoslovakia as the Albatros, was developed in the 1960s, the first turbofan-powered trainer produced.
According to information found on the Internet, the Albatros is the most-used jet trainer in the world, noted for its versatility. Some of the 3,000 L-39s built have been used in attack missions.
When used as a trainer the plane is not armed, but has two underwing pylons for drop tanks and practice weapons.
The plane no longer is in production.
