Centrum Leteckého Výcviku (Flight Training Centre – CLV) in Pardubice is among the regular participants of Aviatická pouť (Aviation Fair) air show, and the forthcoming 33rd edition of the event will not be an exception from this rule.
CLV Pardubice was established on 1st January 2024, as part of state-owned LOM Praha company (Letecké opravny Malešice – Malešice Aviation maintenance plant). Its operational service was officially commenced on 1st April of the same year. At that time, CLV performed its training tasks with only two Mil Mi-2 helicopters.
With the years of activity, the CLV aircraft inventory was enhanced with Aero L-39 Albatros training jets, Zlín Z-142 trainers, LET L-410 Turbolet twin-engine transport aeroplanes and Mi-8 multi-purpose medium helicopters.
In 2016, one example of EV-97 Eurostar ultra-light aircraft was acquired by CLV and since then is primarily being used for instructor training flights. Two years later, the Czech flight training school purchased the first Enstrom 480B rotorcraft. In a short time, the new helicopter replaced the Mi-2 in its role of primary rotorcraft trainer.
Currently, CLV Pardubice provides the full pilot´s training duties for the Czech Air Force. In addition, the Flight Training Centre is offering its service for foreign military customers. In recent years it provided training for aviators from Poland, Nigeria or Afghanistan. In 2020, the most famous Czech aerobatic pilot Martin Šonka joined the CLV flight instructors´ team.
Introduction of the Enstrom helicopters was the first generational change in the CLV fleet. The process is still continued – in November of 2022, LOM Praha ordered four Aero L-39 Skyfox training jets, with option for additional four, and in January of 2025, the contract for eight new propeller-driven Zlín Z-143LSi and Z-242L trainers was concluded.
The first two L-39 Skyfox new generation jet trainers were officially introduced into operational service with CLV in February this year. Delivery of three new Zlín aircraft is expected to occur in September of 2025, and all the training aeroplanes should be introduced into operational service until the end of 2026.
Acquisition of the next generation training aircraft was an important step towards implementation of new training programme, focused on the future Czech Air Force aircraft – Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lighting II 5th generation fighter and Embraer C-390 airlifter.
However, the aforementioned purchase of the new training aircraft at the same time means the end of operational service for the current CLV icons, Zlín Z-142CAF and Aero L-39C Albatros.
During the upcoming edition of the Aviation Fair, the Flight Training Centre is going to showcase most of the aircraft from its fleet, by their participation in both static exhibition and flying displays programme.
According to the organizers, Aviatická pouť will bring a unique joint display of the Skyfox and Albatros. For the new trainer, it will be the premiere flying performance for general public but also means, most probably, a dernier display for the L-39C.
The jet trainers display will be supported by Enstrom 480B-G rotorcraft display, performed by the well-known Czech helicopter pilot Jaroslav Špaček, as well as by Zlín Z-142CAF with Martin Šonka at its controls.
The CLV presentation will be enhanced by two rare historical aeroplanes, belonging to the Military Historical Institute in Prague but operated by the Flight Training Centre. The first of them is C-11, the iconic training aircraft from the 1950s, based on Yakovlev Yak-11 and built in the former Czechoslovakia under license. The second is Zlín Z-381 ´Basa´, a Czechoslovak derivative of Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann training aircraft (for more information about the Z-381, check our article from the Photo of the Week series – Zlín Z-381).
The 33rd edition of the Aviation Fair will take place on 7th and 8th June 2025, at Pardubice airfield. Tickets for the event are already available here.
More information about the show can be also found in our reports from previous editions of Aviatická pouť: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2019.
