RI's N-250 first flight successful<\/p>\n
BANDUNG, West Java (JP): Indonesians witnessed yesterday the
\nsuccessful maiden flight of the country's first domestically-
\ndesigned medium-range commuter aircraft, the N-250.<\/p>\n
President and First Lady Tien Soeharto, Vice President and
\nMrs. Try Sutrisno, and members of the cabinet witnessed the 56
\nminutes of N-250's first flight from the Nusantara Aircraft
\nIndustry (IPTN) runway outside of Bandung.<\/p>\n
The plane, originally scheduled to fly for about 90 minutes,
\nwas piloted by Erwin Danoewinata, who is also IPTN's chief test
\npilot. He was accompanied by co-pilot Sumarwoto from the
\ncountry's Air Force and two flight engineers, Hendrawan
\nHaryowibowo and Yoares Riady.<\/p>\n
The N-250 was accompanied by two other aircraft during its
\nmaiden flight, a chaser Galeb and a CN-235 as a guide.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto, who was watching from a control tower when
\nthe N-250 circled at a height of 10,000 feet, congratulated the
\nfour air personnel shortly after the plane landed.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said the event was one of the country's columns of
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
He also said that the country should not stop developing its
\naircraft industry and must prepare the next generation of planes
\nwith more sophisticated technology.<\/p>\n
\"If we want to progress we will have to develop more
\nsophisticated technology, which will be able to produce passenger
\njets,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, State Minister for Research and Technology B. J.
\nHabibie, who is also IPTN's president, said that aircraft
\nmanufacturers usually keep the maiden flights of their products
\nsecret.<\/p>\n
\"But because N-250 is the nation's project, high-ranking
\nofficials and members of the House of Representative came without
\ninvitations,\" he said at a press conference attended by some 160
\ndomestic and foreign journalists.<\/p>\n
\"I don't think that there is anybody who is not touched here
\ntoday. Some even had tears in their eyes,\" he asserted.<\/p>\n
Most IPTN executives and cabinet ministers looked moved, or
\ntouched, but very proud and happy yesterday.<\/p>\n
The N-250, called Gatotkoco after the flying hero of the
\nancient Mahabarata epic which has inspired Indonesia's puppet
\ntheater, is the first aircraft of its size to use fly-by-wire
\ntechnology.<\/p>\n
With a maximum cruising speed of 330 knots and range of 800
\nnautical miles, it is powered by Allison AE 2100-C turboprop and
\ndesigned to accommodate 54 to 64 seats.<\/p>\n
The aircraft carried out a series of taxiing tests, including
\na short take-off and landing test last week. A number of other
\ntests were delayed for about three weeks in March due to the late
\ndelivery of spare parts. Several mechanical problems also
\noccurred during runway trials.<\/p>\n
Sales<\/p>\n
Habibie said earlier that IPTN has received orders for 192 N-
\n250s. Three overseas firms, International Lease Finance Corp.,
\nGulfstream International of the United States, and a leasing
\ncompany from Europe have signed agreements with IPTN for the
\nprocurement of 38 N-250s.<\/p>\n
Three domestic airlines, Merpati Nusantara, a subsidiary of
\nGaruda Indonesia, Bouraq Airlines, and Sempati Air have signed
\nletters of intent to purchase the remaining aircraft.<\/p>\n
Habibie said that 259 units had to be sold to break-even.<\/p>\n
According to Benny Rungkat, vice president of Bouraq Airlines,
\nthe N-250, which costs between US$13.5 million and $14.2 million,
\nis well-qualified.<\/p>\n
\"The fly-by-wire technology makes the N-250 very competitive
\nin its class. The price is also about $2 million cheaper,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Benny, who is also the secretary general of the Indonesian
\nNational Air Carriers Association, said that the aircraft,
\nequipped with am Allison engine, is the best in the world and 25
\npercent more efficient in fuel consumption than its ATP and
\nFokker-27 rivals.<\/p>\n
A senior executive and chief test pilot of the European-
\nconsortium aircraft manufacturer Airbus Industrie, Gerard Charles
\nGuyot, who attended yesterday's ceremony, said that he was
\noptimistic the N-250 will be successful overseas. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ris-n-250-first-flight-successful-1447893297",
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