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"Albatross" doesn't seem a fitting name for this sleek trainer. Aero Vodochody built more than 2,800 L39's between 1971 and 1998. Today, there are at least 150 L39's in private ownership throughout the world with 109 currently registered in the USA. Aero Vodochody a.s., is now a joint-stock company in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic owns about 65% of the company and Boeing owns about 35%. [Update: Boeing relinquished its partial ownership of Aero Vodochody in 2004].