This L-39C is one of 30 that were delivered to the Cuban Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Revolucionaria) as an advanced trainer to the Aviation School in San Julian, although less than a third of the fleet is currently operational. Along with advanced flight trainning, the L-39C is used for ground attack combat trainning and could be used as a ground support aircraft in the event of an attack.

The L-39 Albatros series of trainers/ground attack aircraft is the most successful aircraft produced by Aero from the Czech Republic. The L-39 was a further development of the L-29 Delfin jet trainer that was supplied to some Warsaw Pact air forces and some Soviet client air forces during the 1960's. The L-39 first entered service with the Czech Air Force in 1974, but thier largest client became the Soviet Union. The L-39 was also sold to Afghanistan, East Germany, Cuba, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and several other countries. The L-39 fleet that served with the former Soviet Union had been split up with the former republics. The L-39 is primarily used as an primary and advanced trainer, but some versions are used for combat training and light ground attack. The Albatros versions include the L-39C trainer, L-39V target tug, L-39ZO armed with a gun pack for advanced weapons training, L-39ZO light attack version and the L-39ZE used by Thailand with Isreali electronics. A further development is the L-59, currently in service with Egypt and Tunisia and a single seat ground attack version has been developed known as the L-159.