The L-29 Delfin was made
in Czechoslovakia by Aerovodochody. It was first flown in 1959 and
entered into competition to become the primary jet trainer for the
Warsaw pact. It was challenged by the Yakovlev Yak-30 and the Polish
TS-11 Iskra. It soon became the standard trainer for all of the Warsaw
Pact, except Poland. It was produced from 1963 until 1974. Today they
are a popular warbird for the jet warbird crowd.
The three aircraft
pictured below are part of the Thunder Delfins display team. Usually,
there are 5 on the team. Even with the three that were at Riverside, it
was an impressive display of Eastern Bloc Cold War technology.
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