16 January 2025
British company Babcock has bought 11 L-39 Albatros jets that used to fly as the Breitling Jet Team. The aircraft will join its international fighter pilot training academy in France.
Watch company Breitling stopped its sponsorship of the civilian jet display team in 2019 and the team operator, Apache Aviation, was unable to find a new backer.
Babcock said the acquisition strengthens its capabilities to support the training and development of air force pilots. The company was recently awarded a 795m euro 17-year contract for military air training for the French Air and Space Force, and French Navy.
Babcock’s academy is located on a former military base in Dijon, France, where it trains future fighter pilots, L-39 pilot instructors, retrains already qualified fighter pilots, and provides training for pilots and advanced controllers in close air support missions.
Advanced training will also be delivered on the L-39 aircraft, based on realistic combat scenarios.
Pierre Basquin, Babcock’s Chief Executive Aviation and CEO France, said, “Military pilot training is a critical component of our customers’ defence capabilities. Expanding our military training activity aligns with our ambition to support our customers’ needs, both in the short and long term.”
We’ve purchased 11 L-39 “Albatros” aircraft, strengthening the capabilities of our international fighter pilot training academy in France. The academy will offer programmes designed by former fighter pilots from the French Air and Space Force. https://t.co/VozyU3qerS pic.twitter.com/zf73GT73W0
— Babcock International (@Babcockplc) December 19, 2024
