It certainly happens and can happen to anyone. For what it's worth, I thought whoever that was did a pretty good job of pressing with the rotation and flying back to the land. I didn't hear the comm or see the pattern, but it seemed to be a good recovery.

It's an incredibly simple, yet reliable jet. I've never been crazy about the canopy locking mechanism. Depending on the exact jet, sometimes the light will go out when you lock it forward, but then when you pressurize the seals it can pop the light. Obviously you're always looking for the light, but I also bring it into my cross check during the full power run up. When part of the general departures, Osh is a difficult place to do the run up with the L-39 as you can blast just about everyone.

It's a fun jet to fly, but definitely not a fighter. It's tremendously underpowered, nothing happens exceptionally fast and tight formation with it is challenging, but it's absolutely fun to fly. You don't really appreciate acts the like Patriots etc until you fly really tight with it. The power availability and energy loss is quite poor. You can leave the power up and fan the boards, but the switch is not really designed for that, so the springs can wear and break fairly quickly. 103-106% is a decent spot for power availability, but much below that there is significant lag. However, I don't really worry about landing roll as much as with modern fighters and cross countries are cake but range limited.

Everyone says a nosewheel steering mod would be too cost prohibitive, but man, that would be Gucci.

Anyone here with an L-39 use a Mid Continent TI250 series inverter to replace the GIANT 115V inverters in the jet?

I found a good deal on one (TI-256-3), and I'm trying to get a little guidance on how to wire in the fault indicator system; pin 13 of the L39 cannon plug feeds the fault annunciator light.

Looking at the L39 wiring diagram, it looks like 13 is coming from a transistor, so I though it would provide power when a fault is detected. But when I connected a separate 28VDC power supply to that pin (#13) I get no warning light.

Saw one at KSAT painted up like Blue Angel #4.

Flying an L-39 down the Star Wars Canyon:

[youtube]https://youtu.be/usYI1IgqWi8[/youtube]

They make it look easy. L-39 close formation maneuvers are definitely much harder than they look with that low-spool time!

I've had Warman in my backseat- and it was memorable. that guys is a badass.

I'd be honored to get a canyon run with him.

I guess I missed that part - the Jedi transition.
Can you explain more Chris?

Sure - first stop is the R-2508 airspace webpage:
https://www.edwards.af.mil/About/R-2508/

The top right link is the R-2508 user's handbook that talks about the airspace and route. You can see the Jedi transition on the map below. The Jedi transition is just a part of a larger training route, and it happens to be the part that goes through the Star Wars Canyon aka Rainbow Canyon. There are certain procedures to follow, like always fly it West to East. This is for military users, but it's all important stuff to know if you're flying in the area, and luckily it's public information (although some of the areas are restricted).

That is good stuff Chris.
I imagine that our higher HQ conformed our local squadron procedures with the User's Range Manual.
Maybe some other USN guy has more details about the Lemoore's squadron using the ranges.

Through my time there - I never saw the User Manual. Never flew this 'Sidewinder Low Level Route' of which the canyon is a small part of.

We would fly into Owen's Valley - head down to 500' feet and do a 'warm-up' flight following the road to the south along the east side of the valley and then follow it back to the east and eventually a little north (some sharps turns in there), before dipping into the valley, coming out the east end of the canyon and then either working in the Saline Valley or turning north and going into the Panamint Valley for the rest of our Low Altitude Tactical Training (LATT). One of my absolute favorite training evolutions.
Low flying is where is it at

That sounds awesome.... as far as canyons go, Star Wars Canyon isn't the coolest, but it may be the most well-known (by the public). I wish I lived in a place that had more canyons I could explore... it's fun when done safely.

I’m hoping to have warman back in my airplane next month. He’s a total badass.

Saw this impressive photo of L-39 formation flying at SnF this year:

Now that's some formation flying and awesome photography. Not photoshopped!

The picture is framed and for sale at L'Image in Wichita, KS (part of a showing presently there through the end of the month).

Photo by Bonnie Johnson, Images by Bonnie.

Mike C.

I lost another 62lbs...

Got rid of the Russian 115V AC inverters (there are 2 in the L39). they power some weaps, 1 of the engine gauges, and the ECS system. the pull 55A and can deliver 400VA at 115VAC and also deliver 80VAC. they are for sale if anyone wants them.

I replaced with a mid-continent 115V inverter that weighs 2.5lbs. it took me a minute to figure out the wiring, and I made a useful mod (thanks to Mike C. for the EE advice):

1) in the normal design, the 115V INV FAIL light comes on if the inverter is overloaded.
2) I also wanted the warning if the inverter went offline (like the Citation does). so I added the appropriate rectifiers and relay to do such. that's the black box underneath the inverter.

a good project.

Did your old one fail or is it still good?

Making a pile of spares (I run fairly stock jets, with little intention of modifying)