Impressive display awaits visitors to air show
Impressive display awaits visitors to air show
JAKARTA: The Indonesia Air Show '96 will no doubt be one of the world's largest. Over 200 companies from 22 countries have confirmed their participation, with as many as 62 planes to go on display at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng.
The aircraft on display will be impressive: Two stealth airplanes, the F-117 Nighthawk and B-2 bomber, and two supersonic B-1B bombers. There will also be a fly-pass of USS Nimitz's F-18 Hornets, F-14 Tomcats and probably some Tracker aircraft too.
Bandung-based PT Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN) will display its turboprop fly-by-wire commuter, the N250 prototype, CN-235s both in military and civilian versions, the CN-235 MPA, two CASA 212s in rain-making and EFIS versions, three NBO-105 helicopter versions (military, police, ambulance), two NBell 412s, military and EFIS, NBell 407 and NBell 430. The host's star is without doubt the N250 fly-by-wire turboprop commuter, a world first.
However, the United States Air Force's stealth fighter, the F- 117 and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber plus the B-1B bombers will definitely steal the show. This is only the B-2's second Asian appearance, after its debut in Singapore earlier this year.
The B-1B supersonic bombers will be on display for four days. This will be the first Asian appearance for both the F-117 and B- 1B. Unlike her sister, the stealth bomber, the Nighthawk will be in Jakarta only for a four-hour display.
The U.S. first displayed the Lockheed F-117 to the public at the Paris air show in 1991, just a few months after the Gulf War. A year later the U.S. Air Force exhibited this exotic plane for the second time at the Mildenhall Air Fete, England. It was also shown in Wisconsin at the Fly-in Oshkosh show.
The other star will be the British Airways supersonic passenger aircraft, the Concorde, built jointly by Britain and France. This will be Concorde's debut in Asia. It is already a fixture at prestigious shows such as Paris and Farnborough, and a symbol of European supremacy in aeronautics above the U.S.
No less impressive are France's Dassault Rafale E-1 Mirage 2000 fighter planes and Australia's Air Force F-111 fighter- bomber. From the former Eastern bloc, Russia's latest state-of- the-art Sukhoi Su-35 fighter plane will join the others. And of course there will be world-famous Su-27 Flanker with her cobra maneuver. MiG fighter planes will be exhibited alongside an Antonov An-124 Ruslan, the world second biggest airplane.
Among the civilian aircraft on display will be Boeing Aircraft company's latest product, the new wide-bodied B-777. Its rival, Airbus Industrie, will show off its A340 four-engine aircraft. Both Boeing and Airbus took part in the first Indonesia Air Show in 1986.
Apart from the legendary Concorde, Britain will also bring its BAe Hawk 100 fighter to the show.
Singapore will display its Super Skyhawk and Malaysia its trainer MD-3 and RV-6 aircraft. Pakistan said it would display the KC-8 fighter trainer, which it built jointly with China. China itself will show off its CHC-22 Korvette amphibian plane.
The Regional Jet from Canadair will be there, along with the Swiss PC-12 and Australia's PC-9 Pilatus. The Netherlands will display two F-16s as well as the KDC-10 tanker, which is a modified DC-10 Martinair. Germany will present an alpha jet and an MB-108 vintage aircraft.
The highlight of the show will be an aerobatics performance by the British Red Arrows in their BAe Hawk jets. The Golden Dreams, also from Britain, Australia's Roulettes in their PC-9, and Indonesia's F-16 Elang Biru will also be appearing.
-- Angkasa