IPTN has orders for 192 aircraft<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Research and Technology B.J.
\nHabibie said yesterday the Bandung-based IPTN aerospace company
\nhad so far received orders from Europe, the United States and
\nIndonesia for 192 units of its N-250 turboprop passenger
\naircraft.<\/p>\n
Habibie, who is also president of the state-owned Industri
\nPesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN), did not elaborate on the
\ncomposition of the orders but earlier reports said Indonesian
\nairline companies had ordered 188 of the 64-seat N-250s.<\/p>\n
He told reporters before the monthly limited cabinet session
\non economic affairs that the first N-250 aircraft, nicknamed the
\nGatotkaca, to roll out of the IPTN hangar was now undergoing
\nground vibration tests.<\/p>\n
\"The auxiliary power unit of the aircraft was fired on Monday
\nand it turned out to perform quite well,\" Habibie added.<\/p>\n
Habibie yesterday briefed President Soeharto and cabinet
\nministers on the progress of the development of the country's
\nfirst domestically-designed aircraft which is scheduled to make
\nits maiden flight on Aug. 10.<\/p>\n
Maiden flight<\/p>\n
\"President Soeharto will witness the maiden flight of the
\nGatotkaca aircraft on Aug. 10, or one week before the golden
\ncelebration of National Day,\" Information Minister Harmoko told
\njournalists after the cabinet meeting.<\/p>\n
Gatotkaca, the name of the flying mythological figure of the
\nancient Mahabarata epic, is the N-250 prototype which was rolled
\nout last November in the presence of President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Habibie said the Allison engine of the aircraft would be
\ninstalled next week and the airplane and its whole system would
\nthen undergo thorough tests and checks.<\/p>\n
Asked about the sales' financing for the N-250 aircraft,
\nHabibie said the financings would be arranged by IPTN's
\nsubsidiaries in the United States and Germany.<\/p>\n
\"We have set up a subsidiary, called Amrai, in the United
\nStates and another one, ASL, in Germany. They will be responsible
\nfor financing N-250 sales in the two countries,\" he said.<\/p>\n
During the rolling-out ceremony of the prototype last
\nNovember, Habibie explained that the N-250 would be the first
\ncommercial turboprop airplane to apply the fly-by-wire
\ntechnology.<\/p>\n
The aircraft will have a minimum cruise speed of 300 knots or
\n556 kilometers per hour and a flying range of 1,482 kilometers.<\/p>\n
Earlier reports said three domestic airlines, Merpati
\nNusantara, a subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, Bouraq Airlines and
\nSempati Air had signed agreements with IPTN for the purchase of
\n188 N-250s.<\/p>\n
Habibie said last November that the commercial production of
\nthe N-250 aircraft would start in late 1997 immediately after the
\nairplane obtained airworthiness certification from the U.S.
\nFederal Aviation Agency.<\/p>\n
Several foreign companies are also involved in the N-250
\ndevelopment as the suppliers of components and parts. Included
\namong them are Boeing, Allison and Collins of the U.S., Messier
\nEram and Auxilec of France, Liebherr of Germany and Dowty and
\nLucas of Britain.<\/p>\n
He said the N-250 would carry a price tag of US$13.5 million.
\n(04)<\/p>",
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