Beautiful plane

Changin' Tires!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN2zrpbpydo

Out of curiosity, what’s the minimum runway length you can operate an L39 out of?

I ran the tables with the following:
77' F day, at 1000 MSL airport altitude, takeoff weight 9,274 lbs (just me, and a full main bag of gas, 292 gal's).

Takeoff: I need 2,045 feet ground roll (dry, no wind), and 4,200 to clear a 50' obstacle.
Accel-Stop distance is 4,180 feet.

Landing rollout (after a 1 hour flight at the above conditions): 1,850 feet (dry concrete).

I started with a 5,000' minimum. now I'd probably use a 4k rwy if I needed to. But most places with the gas price I want have a 5,000' runway so it doesn't matter.

Thanks Gary. Been toying around the idea and was curious if the main airport I operate out of would be long enough. Sounds like 3800’ won’t work.

Based on the heavyweight, high temp max abort numbers, I’d keep a 5000’ min. The performance of the motors can vary quite a bit as can the weights. Each L39 is truly unique with regard to weight, CG, brake performance, etc.

Here's a short one on the general flying characteristics-- steep turns, clean, then fully-configured stalls, and the a few SFOs.

Fun stuff- tried the straight-in SFO this time, and i thought I'd use 1nm for each 1,000' altitude. well ,that didn't work so well. check it out below.

sorry about the 2' intro crap, still learning youtube...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQg8nI5fE4c

Very very cool Gary. This is very useful and informative - I've been kicking the tires (in my head) about getting an L39 and using it instead of the CJ for those project related commutes to West Texas where I end up flying alone - similar performance and probably a lot more fun. Thanks for putting this together - I look forward to your next video.

putting a bug out to this forum first.

Will more than likely list the L39 for sale over the next few months. It has been a fantastic airplane, and I'm really torn on selling it. I love the design, the history, and the way it flies. i have flown it to approach minimums, flown formation hops, and done a bunch of airshows. the only thing left for me to do is an air-to-air photo shoot.

people are drawn to it's unique paint scheme (paint is probably a 9/10). The airplane just performs. And there's only ~300 hours on the engine.

But there is only so much airplane money to go around.... and I'm need to get back into something more practical.

if anyone wants pics or a spec-sheet, PM me.

What would one budget for insurance on something like this? 500+ hours of commercial jet time but nothing warbirdy. Just curious.

Depends largely on coverage limits. $1mm smooth liability and $300K hull I would think something like $25K per year.

Our hull coverage is too low for the plane’s market value. We insure for a $350K hull and our market value is much higher because we have almost all of the great mods. I think the only accident where our coverage makes sense is a gear up, hangar rash, ramp accident. It won’t cover a full hull loss.

Great American insures this market but lots of others don’t.

We insure almost everything with USAIG, including some slightly unusual planes, but they won’t touch the 39.

Zeke

A good number of my L39 customers don't insure the hull and carry liability only. Premiums for those type of policies are anywhere from $3k-$5k (depending on pilot experience etc).

I need to get a quote from you then! I have liability only, plus ground non-moving insurance, no hull coverage, and I'm paying about $9000. I have 400 hours in type and about 1600 hours total, zero incidents or claims. I'm with Ladd Gardner since 2015.

I need to get a quote from you then! I have liability only, plus ground non-moving insurance, no hull coverage, and I'm paying about $9000. I have 400 hours in type and about 1600 hours total, zero incidents or claims. I'm with Ladd Gardner since 2015.

Good to hear, thanks for the info!