Credit
Michal šenki · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified
FORCETALLY
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At a glance
Measured figures
L-59E · Length
Single source12.20 m (40 ft 0 in)[source]
RC-135 · Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Aero L-59 Super Albatros | Boeing RC-135 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Military trainer aircraft COIN[source] | Reconnaissance aircraft[source] |
| Manufacturer | Aero Vodochody[source] | Boeing (airframe) L3Harris Technologies[source] |
| Status | Out of production, in service[source] | In service[source] |
| Primary users | Czech Air Force Egyptian Air Force Tunisian Air Force[source] |
136 ft 3 in (41.53 m)[source]
L-59E · 1 × Lotarev DV-2 turbofan thrust
Single source1 × Lotarev DV-2 turbofan , 21.57 kN (4,850 lbf) thrust[source]
RC-135 · 4 × CFM International F-108-CF-201 turbofan engines thrust each
Single source4 × CFM International F-108-CF-201 turbofan engines, 22,000 lbf (98 kN) thrust each[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
United States Air Force Royal Air Force[source] |
| Number built | 80[source] | 32 total airframes across all iterations[source] |
|---|
| Manufactured | 1986–1996[source] | — |
|---|
| First flight | 30 September 1986[source] | — |
|---|
| Developed from | Aero L-39 Albatros[source] | Boeing C-135 Stratolifter[source] |
|---|
| Variant | Aero L-159 ALCA[source] | — |
|---|
| Fuel capacity | 1,537 L (406 US gal; 338 imp gal) including tip tanks[source] | — |
|---|
| Stall speed | 185 km/h (115 mph, 100 kn) (flaps down)[source] | — |
|---|
| Guns | one GSh-23L cannon in under-fuselage pod[source] | — |
|---|
| Hardpoints | four underwing hardpoints with a capacity of inner hardpoints 500 kg (1,100 lb)capacity, outer hardpoints 250 kg (550 lb)[source] | — |
|---|
| Country of origin | Czechoslovakia[source]Inventory Origin column; table 1, row 26, cell 2; revision 1374778711; retrieved 2026-10-01 | United States[source]Country/countries explicitly given in the equipment row Origin column; not the country operating the row. Jet |
|---|
| Introduction date | — | 1961[source] |
|---|
| Capacity | — | 21–27 depending on mission requirements, minimum consisting of 4 Electronic Warfare Officers (Ravens), 14 Intelligence Operators and 4 Airborne Systems Engineers (mission crew)[source] |
|---|
| Airfoil | — | root: BAC 310/311/312; tip: BAC 313[source] |
|---|
Maximum take-off; RC-135 · Max takeoff weight
Single source