BMW Rolls-Royce expects to power RI's N-2130

JAKARTA (JP): The British-German aircraft engine maker BMW Rolls-Royce expects to engine Indonesia's first jet, the N-2130 currently developed by state-owned PT Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN).

A Rolls-Royce executive, Robin Singleton, said here yesterday he was optimistic to win the tender for the procurement of the N- 2130's engine even though BMW Rolls-Royce had to compete with two other jet engine manufacturers.

Singleton said BMW Rolls-Royce and IPTN had worked together several years ago on the 100-seat short-haul aircraft N-2130.

"We are confident that we will win the tender for the jet engine. IPTN is expected to announce the selection result next February," he said.

He said that until recently the cooperation had focused on the technical aspects of the program, such as optimization of the aircraft and power for best performance and understanding of the integration and installment of power for the aircraft.

BMW Rolls-Royce, a joint venture between BWM AG of Germany 50.5 percent and Rolls-Royce plc. of Britain 49.5 percent, was established in July 1990, combining technical know-how and airplane engine expertise.

BMW Rolls-Royce spokeswoman, Caroline Harris, said her company was competing with two other companies participating in the engine selection for the N-2130.

She said her company was competing with Pratt & Whitney, which offered PW6000, and General Electric which offered CFM 56/7 for N-2130 aircraft.

In addition to N-2130, the BR715 engine is also offered for AE31X aircraft developed by China, she added.

Singleton said that in addition to regular reviews that were jointly held, BMW Rolls-Royce had also invited IPTN engineering staff to work in Dahlewitz in Brandenburg, Germany, on the performance and integration tasks.

The country's first wholly designed jet N-2130 is expected to be introduced by 2003. The design, engineering and construction of the N-2130 prototype will cost at least US$2 billion.

IPTN plans to make three N-2310 prototypes: one with 80 seats, another with 100 seats and the final with 130 seats. The aircraft will be able to fly at 232 kilometers (125 knots) per hour with a maximum cruising altitude of 11,890 meters (39,000 feet).

The rollout of the first prototype of N-2130 is scheduled for December 2003, while its first flight is expected in March 2004 and certification is expected between April 2004 and May 2006.

According to Singleton, BMW Rolls-Royce is offering IPTN to use its two-shaft turbofan BR715 to engine the N-2130.

BR715, which belongs to the BMW Rolls-Royce BR700 engine family, was selected in 1994 by McDonnell Douglas of the U.S. as the sole power plant for the MD-95 aircraft program.

The engine ran for the first time in April 1997 and has been undergoing a 17-month certification program since then. On its second run the BR715 engine, designed for thrusts of up to 22,000 pounds (lb), ran without event at 25,700 pounds thrust.

Certification for the engine is expected by September next year followed by entry into service powering the MD-95 in 1999. (icn)