RI's first plane makes its debut<\/p>\n
BANDUNG, West Java (JP): President Soeharto inaugurated the
\ncountry's first domestically-designed medium-range commuter plane
\nin a roll-out ceremony coinciding with the nationwide
\ncommemoration of Heroes Day yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"The rolling out of the N-250 today depicts that we are
\nfollowing up on our national heroes' struggle for independence 49
\nyears ago,\" Soeharto said in his speech during the ceremony,
\nwhich was attended by Mrs. Tien Soeharto, Vice President and Mrs.
\nTry Sutrisno, a number of cabinet members and foreign
\nambassadors.<\/p>\n
He said the success in the development of high technology in
\nthe aircraft industry has bolstered the country's confidence that
\nIndonesia will be able to prevail and develop the most advanced
\ntechnology.<\/p>\n
In yesterday's ceremony, Soeharto inaugurated the first
\nprototype of the 50-seat subsonic N-250 plane, which applies the
\ninnovative technology called \"fly-by-wire\". The prototype is
\ncalled Gatotkoco, after the flying hero of the ancient Mahabarata
\nepic, which has inspired Indonesia's wayang puppet theater and
\nwayang orang opera.<\/p>\n
State Minister for Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, who
\nis also president of the state-owned aircraft maker, PT Industri
\nPesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN), said that the other three
\nprototypes, the N-250-100 series, will have a capacity of 64 to
\n70 seats.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was marked by the emergence of the Gatotkoco
\nprototype from a hangar amid a colorful fog created by dry ice.
\nIt was pulled by IPTN employees, while a choral group sang
\nanthems. A poem written by Habibie was then read out.<\/p>\n
\"This is for you, the country, the heroes, the warriors; both
\nthe known and unknown ones. Please, receive gratitude from us,
\nyour younger generation,\" Habibie said in the poem.<\/p>\n
Soeharto then poured water from a traditional clay jug over
\nthe plane, before breaking it in front of the aircraft. A
\ntraditional dance was then performed, illustrating the legend of
\nGatotkoco.<\/p>\n
Names<\/p>\n
Habibie said that the aircraft, worth US$13.5 billion, is the
\nfirst of four prototypes prepared by IPTN.<\/p>\n
\"Gatotkoco is the name given by President Soeharto, who also
\nnamed the other three prototypes; Koco Negoro, Krincing Wesi and
\nPutut Guritno,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Each plane has a potential minimum flying speed of 300 knots,
\nor 556 kilometers per hour, and a maximum speed of 330 knots, or
\n612 kilometers per hour, for a distance of 1,482 kilometers.<\/p>\n
The three other prototypes are scheduled to be launched in
\nFebruary, June and August next year.<\/p>\n
After the ceremony, President and Mrs. Tien Soeharto inspected
\nthe various systems and equipment of the Gatotkoco and the 1:1
\nscale mock-up of N-250-100.<\/p>\n
Three domestic airlines, Merpati Nusantara, a subsidiary of
\nGaruda Indonesia, Bouraq Airlines and Sempati Air have signed
\nagreements with IPTN for the procurement of 188 N-250s.
\nGulfstream International Airline has signed a letter of intent
\nfor purchasing similar aircraft.<\/p>\n
Habibie said a U.S. company has ordered 10 aircraft and a
\nEuropean firm another 24.<\/p>\n
U.S. venture<\/p>\n
In a press conference attended by hundreds of foreign and
\ndomestic reporters, Habibie said that his company has assigned
\nIPTN North America (INA), IPTN's subsidiary in Seattle, the
\nUnited States, to prepare the establishment of a joint venture to
\nbe called the American Regional Aircraft Industry (Amrai).<\/p>\n
He said recently that the planned joint venture, which will
\nset up an assembly plant with an investment of $100 million in
\nthe United States, will be able to produce one aircraft every two
\ndays, of which 50 percent will be marketed in North America.<\/p>\n
According to Habibie, the planned venture will be 40 percent
\ncontrolled by IPTN and 60 percent by foreign partners. \"General
\nElectric of the United States has confirmed it wants to take a 10
\npercent ownership.\"<\/p>\n
President Soeharto is expected to announce the partnership and
\nlocation of the planned U.S. plant next month.<\/p>\n
Habibie, targeting the U.S. and European markets, has said
\nrepeatedly that IPTN has developed the latest technology for
\naerodynamics and avionic systems in the N-250, the first
\nturboprop commercial plane using high sonic speed.<\/p>\n
He said that the fly-by-wire technology applied for the N-250,
\nwhich will be flown within the next eight months, is meant to
\nsupport the aircraft control system in a sophisticated way.<\/p>\n
He also said the operation of the prototypes will be used to
\nobtain air certificates from the Directorate General of Air
\nTransportation in July 1997 and from the Federal Aviation Agency
\nof the United States in December 1997.<\/p>\n
In developing the N-250 since 1984, IPTN has been supported by
\na number of foreign companies, including America's Boeing;
\nAllison and Collins; the French firm, Messier Eram and Auxilec;
\nthe German firm, Liebherr, and the British firm Dowty and Lucas.<\/p>\n
N-250 will have its maiden flight in July or August 1995, when
\nIndonesia celebrates the 50th anniversary of its independence.
\nIts commercial production is expected to start in late 1997.
\n(icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ris-first-plane-makes-its-debut-1447902657",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}