AERO

Aero Vodochody is an aerospace company based in the Czech Republic that produces aircraft and aircraft parts. Its facilities are located at Vodochody Airport in the Prague-East District. Aero Vodochody is best known for its jet-powered trainer aircraft, including the L-29 Delfin and L-39 Albatros, which were popular during the Cold War era. The company also developed derivatives of the L-39, including the L-59 Super Albatros and the L-159 Alca military light combat jet. Following the fall of the communist government in Czechoslovakia in 1989, Aero Vodochody experienced a period of disruption due to market changes. The company was previously owned by the American aerospace company Boeing between 1998 and 2004, and was later bought by Czech-Slovak investment group Penta Investments in October 2006. In 2021, Penta Investments sold their business share to HSC Aerojet Zrt. Aero Vodochody remains active in manufacturing both whole aircraft and aerostructures for the aerospace industry. In 2014, the company launched the Aero L-39NG, an upgraded and modernized version of its popular L-39 trainer aircraft.