Vietnamese L-39NGs prepare for spectacular air show over Hanoi
Vietnamese Air Force pilots have recently completed basic type training on new L-39NG training aircraft from Aero Vodochody and are currently preparing for the advanced phase, which includes group flying and flights practicing advanced piloting techniques. The newly retrained pilots of the 910th Training Regiment will also have an exceptionally prestigious task awaiting them in early September, when they will participate in a formation of new L-39NGs at a spectacular air show over Hanoi, held as part of the celebrations marking 80 years since Vietnam's declaration of independence.
The acquisition of the modern L-39NG training platform by the Vietnamese Air Force follows decades of successful operation of the previous L-39C Albatros model in Vietnam. The entire contract for the delivery of twelve Engéck aircraft was completed with the test flight and handover of the last three aircraft with fuselage numbers 2310, 2311, and 2312, which arrived in Vietnam in November 2024. At the customer's request, a flight test at maximum altitude was also successfully completed as part of the handover. The physical handover of the aircraft was followed by training of the customer's flight personnel to obtain aircraft commander – instructor qualifications on the L-39NG type, which was completed in November 2024 for the first six instructor pilots of the 910th Training Regiment based at Tuy Hoa.
During this year, the regiment successfully completed basic training for the second group of six pilots, which took place in several phases. The autumn theory course was followed in February 2025 by simulator training and pre-flight testing, which refreshed the participants' basic piloting skills. They were then able to embark on practical flight training with the aim of obtaining type rating as pilot-in-command. The second group of pilots completed a total of 102 flights and 110 hours in the air on the L-39NG. All six Vietnamese pilots successfully obtained their qualification during their final solo flight.
For pilots with experience on the older L-39C Albatros, this was a huge generational leap that required mastering a completely new type of avionics and onboard systems. The training was made even more difficult by unpleasant monsoon weather with heavy rainfall and high temperatures. This placed great demands on both the pilots and the technicians, as up to six flights were carried out each day. However, the members of the 910th Training Regiment coped excellently with the complicated conditions and, according to them, the quality of the aircraft itself helped them significantly. The newly retrained pilots praised the clear HUD display and other advanced instrumentation, including multifunction displays, excellent visibility from the cockpit, and the aircraft's pleasant flight characteristics, which are necessary for a basic training aircraft.
The progress of L-39NG deliveries to Vietnam to date also shows that this is an aircraft with a sophisticated customer delivery system, suitable even for demanding climatic conditions. The advanced GBTS (Ground Based Training System) helps pilots successfully complete their training, whether it be a computer-assisted learning system, a cabin procedures simulator, or a full mission simulator. According to Lieutenant Colonel Doan Trung Kien, deputy commander of the 910th Air Training Regiment, as part of the integration of the new L-39NG aircraft into its arsenal, the unit has also taken the necessary steps to modernize its infrastructure and equipment, including navigation systems at its home airport in Tuy Hoa. Members of the regiment also participated in the creation of a complete set of training documents for the L-39NG retraining program, including updated manuals, and provided the briefing rooms with various cockpit operating diagrams and other training aids, including audiovisual tools.
The basic training will be followed by advanced training, in which pilots will acquire advanced aircraft and systems control skills, including advanced piloting techniques, maximum use of avionics potential, and formation flying. Currently, all participants in the retraining courses have achieved basic operational readiness and are fully qualified to fly the L-39NG. Some pilots have also already obtained certification to teach a range of skills, including basic flight maneuvers, tactical flying, formation flying, and training in attacks on air and ground targets.
Celebrations of 80 years of independence and flyover of Hanoi
Members of the 910th Training Regiment will also have an exceptionally prestigious task awaiting them in early September, when they will take part in an air show over Hanoi as part of the celebrations marking 80 years of Vietnamese independence. National Independence Day is one of the most important national holidays in Vietnam, commemorating the proclamation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 2, 1945, after Japan's surrender. This day is always associated with large military parades, official ceremonies, and public celebrations. In Hanoi, where the founder of Vietnam and later president Ho Chi Minh declared independence, festive events are held, attended by government officials and thousands of citizens.
This year's celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's national holiday will include a flyover of 30 military aircraft over the capital Hanoi in the Ba Dinh Square area, which is set to be one of the largest ceremonial flyovers in Vietnam's history. A total of nine formations of fighter and training aircraft, transport aircraft, and helicopters will take part in the "A80" flyover in honor of this historic event. The formations will include Su-30MK2 multi-role combat aircraft, Yak-130 and L-39NG training aircraft, and CASA C-295 and C-212 transport aircraft, with takeoffs and landings coordinated from three airports – Hoa Lac, Gia Lam, and Kep.
L-39NG aircraft relocated to Kep Airport
The first-ever participation in the celebrations of 80 years of independence and the flyover of Hanoi is not only a prestigious event for members of the 910th Training Regiment from Tuy Hoa, but above all a huge challenge. The regiment only recently began rearming with new L-39NG training aircraft, and only some of the personnel have been retrained so far. At the same time, it must be taken into account that important operational experience is still lacking with the new aircraft, which differ from the original Albatrosses in virtually every respect. Participation in the national celebrations is therefore not only an honor for the training regiment, but above all an opportunity to show that its members are already capable of mastering any task assigned to them with the new aircraft.
The initial part of the preparations for the "A80" celebrations took place at the home base in Tuy Hoa, where the pilots of the 910th school regiment completed a series of training missions, initially focusing on flights in pairs, then in three-member and finally four-member formations, during which they tested their piloting skills during group flights with an emphasis on the precise position of each aircraft in the group. In the final formation of four Enges, the individual aircraft are spaced 20 meters apart with an altitude difference of approximately 5-7 meters, and the entire formation flies over the designated ceremonial location at an altitude of approximately 250 to 300 meters.
The commander of the four-member formation, Colonel Nguyen Van Thu, who is also the deputy commander of the 910th Training Regiment, told the Vietnamese media that as the formation commander, he must constantly issue timely commands from the moment the engines are started until they are shut down to ensure the cohesion of the entire formation. Maintaining the correct speed and flight parameters is crucial for all members to maintain their positions "on the wing." The commander must also give clear instructions before any maneuver and avoid sudden changes in direction, altitude, or speed. At the same time, during training flights, he regularly monitors and evaluates weather conditions in the designated area and around the base to ensure absolute safety during demanding group flying.
The regiment's pilots also completed training flights in Tuy Hoa using new 350-litre fuel tanks, which were to be used during the flight to Kep Airport in Bac Ninh Province in northern Vietnam, home to the 927th Fighter Regiment with Su-30MK2 aircraft. This base northeast of the capital Hanoi is one of three airports from which individual formations will take off for the "A80" mission and is also designated for joint training, a dress rehearsal, and the final flyover of Hanoi's Ba Dinh Square as part of the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The transfer to Kep Airport began on July 11, 2025, when the regiment flew the first three L-39NGs with tail numbers 2301, 2303, and 2307. The entire flight, covering more than 1,000 km, took place in relatively unfavorable weather conditions, and the landing in Kep was particularly difficult due to heavy rainfall. The L-39 with tail number 2301 was piloted by Colonel Nguyen Van Thu (deputy regimental commander for political affairs) and Captain Phan Duy Khanh (deputy commander of the 1st Squadron for political affairs), with Lieutenant Colonel To Anh Tuan (regimental chief of staff) and First Lieutenant Nguyen Ngoc Hung (instructor of the 1st Squadron) at the controls of aircraft number 2307, and Major Tran Van Huy (commander of the 1st Squadron) and Major Nguyen Van Viet (deputy commander of the 1st Squadron) piloting aircraft number 2303.
Two days later, another three Engines with fuselage numbers 2304, 2305, and 2306 moved to Kep Airport, and this flight took place under significantly better weather conditions. A total of six L-39NGs will be involved in the preparations for the A80 celebrations, four of which will be assigned to the official formation and two will serve as backups. A total of 12 newly retrained pilots from the 910th Regiment were selected for the ceremony, eight of whom will be directly involved in the ceremonial formation over Hanoi, two will be reserves, and this number is supplemented by the squadron commander and his deputy. The lead pilots of each crew are also "veterans" with extensive experience and many flying hours. All pilots of the 910th Training Regiment must also get used to the significantly worse weather in northern Vietnam during training at the Kep base, compared to the conditions around their home base in Tuy Hoa in the south.
In addition to the six Enges, eight Yak-130 aircraft from the 940th Training Fighter Regiment in Phu Cat are currently stationed at Kep Airport, which, together with the domestic Su-30MK2s from the 927th Fighter Regiment, are also ready for training and participation in the A80 mission over Hanoi. On selected flight days, members of the training regiment usually complete three training flights, each lasting about 40 minutes, so that on September 2, they will be ready to perform a ceremonial flyover of Ba Dinh Square together with other units. Of course, the current weather will play a role during the ceremonial flyover, as it could negatively affect the long-planned event. In any case, luck favors the prepared, and the members of the 910th Regiment with their new L-39NG aircraft will certainly be ready.
