Silver Coin 500 CZK Training Aircraft Aero L-39 Albatros 2025 Proof

The image is for illustration purposes only, based on a plaster model.

Famous means of transport - Training aircraft Aero L-39 Albatros

Silver coin in top quality Proof, weighing 25 g in 925/1000 Ag and 75/1000 Cu, is part of the series Famous means of transport. The fifth and last coin of the series represents the Aero L-39 Albatros training aircraft.

The reverse side of the polished version of the coin depicts two Aero L-39 Albatros aircraft in the air. The bottom of the coin incorporates an optical sight element in the shape of an altimeter visible from both sides of the coin. The description of the coin states the inscription ‘AERO L 39’ and the year of issue ‘2025’.

Proof, or First Quality, is the designation of the highest quality mintage. Coins in this minting design have a field polished to maximum lustre due to the textile discs used to achieve this quality.

The Aero L-39 Albatros two-seat trainer was designed in the 1960s as a more powerful successor to the first Czechoslovakian-built L-29 Dolphin jet aircraft. Both aircraft were intended for basic and advanced training of military pilots of the Warsaw Pact armies, for which Czechoslovakia was the main supplier of one type of aircraft. On the basis of the technical specification from the Ministry of Defence from 1964, a twin-jet subsonic aircraft was built under the leadership of the chief designer Ing. Jan Vlček at the Aero Vodochody factory. The first flight prototype first flew on 4 November 1968 from the factory airport. Its pilot was a test pilot Ing. Rudolf Duchoň. The production started in 1971 and continued in several variants until 1996 with a total number of 2892 machines including 11 prototypes.
The Albatros was also adapted for training in combat situations, to simulate attacks on air and ground targets or flying in zero visibility. The student and instructor seats were equipped with an ejection system of Czechoslovak design. The aircraft of impressive airframe design is characterized by high reliability and easy maneuverability suitable for aerobatics. In the period from the 1970s to the 1980s it was used by 30 countries in their air forces and thus became one of the most widely used trainer jet aircraft in the world. Currently, Albatros aircraft are used by Czech pilots from the 213th Training Squadron in Čáslav and the Air Training Centre in Pardubice. Also in the world many machines are still part of pilot training programmes or ended up with private persons.

The obverse side of the polished coin is dominated by a view of the dashboard, the central part of which is an optical sight. The upper part offers a view of the Albatros aircraft from the front with the wheels extended during landing. The description of the coin bears the name of the country of origin ‘CZECH REPUBLIC’ and the denomination ‘500 CZK’.

Each silver coin is housed in a protective plastic capsule in a dark blue box. The polished Proof version bears the silver CNB logo on the box. The certificate of authenticity issued by the CNB is an integral part of the coin.

This product is part of the following product sets: