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