Yeah that sure is Code 1's Race 8 - their modified L-39 which they just raced at Reno. Looks like a landing runway over-run.

Didn't see flaps extended, Was it landing or a T-O problem?

Over at CrashTalk someone mentioned the pilot had two prior incidents in the last few months involving a Baron and a Stearman. This needs to be verified though.

Alex,

We have continued our research into the L-39. My putative partner in the plane (Dennis) only has 860 hours so he is focusing on getting to the 1,000 hour minimum required for a jet LOA. So we're not in a rush.

Dennis and I both spoke extensively with Code 1 Aviation at Oshkosh. And we each took a demo flight in the plane. We also spoke with several current operators and got their take on operating costs. With the caveats listed below, we both think the plane is easy to fly (it was a trainer) and a LOT of fun. Whether we pull the trigger is still to be determined.

After giving him an honest assessment of my flying skills, I asked the DPE who would conduct the LOA ride how much training until we would be proficient for the ride. He said 5-7 flights (of approximately 1.2 hours each). Dennis and I are both comfortable/proficient upside down already though neither of us would describe ourselves as experts. True, this is limited to piston aircraft (Marchetti 260, Great Lakes, Decathlon). But we're good with inverted spins, situational awareness on snap rolls, etc.

There are clearly scenarios where the L-39 can be dangerous. For example a suspected engine failure immediately take-off recently killed a very experienced L-39 driver, and low level acro gets dangerous quickly as well. We can't control the first (other than good maintenance) but strict rules about minimum entry altitudes can address the second. I asked a group of L-39 pilots how their peers were killing themselves and they all said "low level acro."

Acquisition and operating costs were the next topic. It looks like a basic airframe is $75K and then you add engine life. Overhaul is about $220K, real world engine ife is 1,000 hours. Then you add spiffy paint and avionics.

If you buy a sound airframe, the basic Annual is about $10K-$12K and you can budget whatever for ongoing systems upgrades or overhauls. This year do xxx and next year do yyy on an ongoing upgrade plan.

All operators said it was a gas and go jet. Average is 130-200 gallons per hour - depending on stage lengths.

Would love to hear if anyone has feedback on this info.

Thanks, Zeke

PM me. I've owned and operated several EEj jets including the L-29. Iskra and S-211 for the past 12 years. I've owned my L-39 for 6 years and have > 500 hours in it.

There's SO much mis-information on these jets that it's mind numbing ... matched only by the Duke

PM me. I've owned and operated several EEj jets including the L-29. Iskra and S-211 for the past 12 years. I've owned my L-39 for 6 years and have > 500 hours in it.

There's SO much mis-information on these jets that it's mind numbing ... matched only by the Duke