THEIR speed and agility once gave them a prominent role in the Warsaw Pact's Cold War air forces.

Although they remain the plane of choice for training many fighter pilots, a Hampshire company has been hired to make two L-39C Albatross jets that will never make it off the ground.

Fibretech, based in Eastleigh, has landed a contract to create two replica Breitling Albatrosses for promotional use alongside private acrobatic displays.

The company is using specialist techniques to take moulds of the plane, which was flown to Southampton Airport for the project.

The moulds are then turned into life-size fibreglass replicas in a process taking about six weeks.

Breitling normally uses the jets in formation flying displays at air shows across the world.

However, it decided it also needed dummy versions to show off to potential clients.

The imitations will appear identical to the real thing.

They will be constructed in parts, to allow them to be folded away into a truck and easily transported.

Fibretech normally specialises in building dormer roofs and canopies, but this is not the first time it has been involved in a project that tested its skills.

The company was hired to recreate the ancient walls at the renovated Roman spa in Bath, and it earned the Breitling contract through previously working with the company to build shells for racing cars.

The initial deal is for two replica planes, but Fibretech hopes its products will impress both Breitling and other agencies, leading to more diverse assignments.