IPTN, Dassault sign agreement to design N-2130
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)