Vodochody, 20 March 2025 – The President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel took a flight in an Aero L-39 Skyfox jet aircraft manufactured by AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE. This historically significant flight took place at the airport in Vodochody and confirmed the important position of Aero in the Czech Defence industry, as well as the exceptional characteristics of this modern machine.

President Petr Pavel appreciated the flight as a great experience and assessed the Skyfox as a very successful aircraft that comes at the right time. He said that it is important to show the world that the Czech Republic has aircraft capable of standing up to international competition, and at the same time has the capacity to train pilots from other countries. He stressed the need to offer this concept to the Czech Republic’s allies and partners.

Viktor Sotona, Chairman of the Aero board of Directors, said, “I am extremely pleased that we have such an ambassador as President Petr Pavel, who today had the opportunity to personally test this great aircraft in action. The L-39 Skyfox continues the 60-year tradition of Aero jet aircraft and represents the future of flight training and also Aero itself, which is one of the most important companies in the Czech defense industry.”

During the flight, President Petr Pavel had the opportunity to personally test the capabilities of the aircraft, which is designed to train military pilots around the world and to perform a wide range of defense missions. The flight was conducted under the guidance of an experienced pilot and demonstrated the aircraft’s superior handling and high maneuvering efficiency. The Aero L-39 Skyfox provides a great view from the cockpit thanks to its all-glass cockpit, and offers a wide range of pilot training opportunities, including on-board virtual target simulation. 

The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, has personally met the L-39 Skyfox on several occasions. In October 2024, he officially christened the aircraft Skyfox and sat in its cockpit during the filming of a spot for the 2024 Air Sportsman of the Year award. This flight was another step in the President’s experience with this exceptional aircraft. 

The Aero L-39 Skyfox is an all-new, multi-functional modern platform that is capable of covering multiple functions, from training pilots for modern fighter aircraft such as the F-16, F-35, and Saab JAS-39 Gripen to light combat and reconnaissance missions aimed at cooperating with various ground and air forces of the military. It is the most efficient aircraft in its category, achieving very low fuel consumption thanks to its turbofan engine, and can operate continuously for up to four hours of flight, making it ideal for ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) missions such as border and coastal patrols. The L-39 Skyfox can be used as a light combat aircraft against ground targets and aerial, slow, and low-flying targets. The L-39 Skyfox’s landing gear allows it to carry a variety of weapons systems and mission equipment, such as guided and unguided bombs, machine guns, guided and unguided missiles, and additional tanks, up to a weight of 1,650 tons.

AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. focuses on the development, production, maintenance and modernization of civil and military aircraft and is the largest aircraft manufacturer in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest aircraft manufacturers in the world. In the field of its own aircraft, Aero is a permanent partner of many military air forces and has a strong position in the market for military trainers and light combat aircraft. With 11,000 aircraft produced in its 100 years of existence, hundreds of L-39 Albatros aircraft still in service with dozens of military operators and a number of demo teams, and especially with its new L-39 Skyfox aircraft, Aero has established itself as a leader in the global jet trainer market. In the civil aviation sector, Aero works with major aircraft manufacturers on a wide range of projects and is a partner in several risk-sharing programs, where it is responsible not only for the manufacture and assembly of aircraft assemblies but also for their development.