IPTN, Dassault sign agreement to design N-2130

JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned aircraft manufacturer IPTN signed a technical cooperation agreement here yesterday with Dassault Aviation of France to design the N-2130 aircraft.

"They have software we can use to design the N-2130 aircraft more cheaply," said Ilham A. Habibie after signing the technical cooperation agreement.

Dassault Aviation's primary vocation is the design, development, production, sale and maintenance of aircraft.

Ilham said that the technology, specifically the Catia software package, will be used first in a pilot project that will be started next month. "Hopefully, we can complete the pilot project by next February," he said.

He said the development of the N-2130 is now in what he called a conceptual phase. "Next year we'll start the design process," he said.

He said that the passenger airplane will be rolled out in the year 2002 and will make its maiden flight the same year.

"The N-2130 jet will be ready for sale in 2004," said Ilham, the eldest son of B.J. Habibie, the state minister of research and technology.

"We plan to gain a market share of at least 20 percent for that type of aircraft," noted Ilham, adding that he is optimistic it can be achieved.

The N-2130 is designed as a 130-passenger jet with a maximum speed of 900 kilometers an hour.

He said that world demand for the aircraft of the N-2130 type in the period of 1995 to 2005 is 2,800 units per year. This demand will increase to 3,800 per year between 2005 and 2015.

He said that the main competitors for the N-2130 are British Aerospace and McDonnell Douglas.

Ilham said that the N-2130 is of a superior design. "I think airplanes designed between 1960 and 1970 won't meet the market's needs in the year 2000," he said.

He said that its price will be competitive due to the application of technology, such as the Catia software package.

According to Ilham, to facilitate the N-2130 project, the government has given the green light to the development of a modern transonic wind-tunnel, called the Indonesian Transonic Speed Tunnel.

He said that the wind-tunnel at the National Center for Research, Science and technology in Serpong, West Java, will be prepared by a consortium of Dutch and Canadian firms or another consortium of German and American firms.

Meanwhile, the world's only supersonic passenger jet, the British-French Concorde, arrived at Soekarno-Hatta airport yesterday for the Indonesia Air Show 1996.

Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie announced yesterday that the Air Show organizing committee will draw lucky numbers from the entry tickets today to choose 25 passengers for a Concorde flight.

"British Airways, the owner of the visiting Concorde, has given me 25 seats on board. It would be unfair not to ask the public to join me on the flight," he said.

The 100-seat Concorde only has executive class seats.

Among the newcomers in the show yesterday were the Australian Roullet aerobatics squadron. (13/icn)