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