CN-235, N-250 in Paris show

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned airplane maker PT IPTN will again take part in the prestigious Paris Air Show, which will be held in Le Bourget, Paris, France, from June 14 to June 22.

IPTN's marketing vice president, Pudji Sulaksono, said over the weekend the company would display Gatotkoco, the first prototype N-250, and CN-235 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft).

IPTN will have an indoor exhibition booth and five chalet units at the air show.

At its indoor booth, it will exhibit the cockpit and cabin mock-up of its N-2130, and N-250 and CN-235 MPA planes.

He said the N-250 and CN-235 planes would perform dynamic and static displays during the show.

"And on the way home, the two airplanes will stop in 14 cities in 11 European and Asian countries," he said.

The N-250, which is IPTN's first fully-designed aircraft, is a turboprop commuter airplane with a top speed of 300 nautical miles an hour and is equipped with fly-by-wire electronics.

IPTN has built four N-250 prototypes -- the Gatotkoco, Krincingwesi, Koconegoro and Pututguritno. The names come from the ancient Mahabarata epic.

Two of them, Koconegoro and Pututguritno, have yet to make their maiden flights.

The CN-235 is also a turboprop airplane but made in cooperation with Spain's CASA aircraft industry.

Pudji said the N-2130 aircraft which was being developed would become the first Indonesian-designed passenger jet.

The 130-passenger jet, with a maximum speed of 900 kilometers an hour, is scheduled to be rolled out in March 2002 and will make its maiden flight five months later.

He said IPTN's Air Show team would include company president B.J. Habibie, who is also minister of research and technology, vice president Hari Laksono, director of the N-2130 program division Ilham A. Habibie, director of research and development Said D. Jenie, and director of the helicopter business unit Jusman SD.

The company has participated at the biennial Paris Air Show since 1979. (bnt)