IPTN has orders for 192 aircraft
IPTN has orders for 192 aircraft
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Research and Technology B.J.
Habibie said yesterday the Bandung-based IPTN aerospace company
had so far received orders from Europe, the United States and
Indonesia for 192 units of its N-250 turboprop passenger
aircraft.
Habibie, who is also president of the state-owned Industri
Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN), did not elaborate on the
composition of the orders but earlier reports said Indonesian
airline companies had ordered 188 of the 64-seat N-250s.
He told reporters before the monthly limited cabinet session
on economic affairs that the first N-250 aircraft, nicknamed the
Gatotkaca, to roll out of the IPTN hangar was now undergoing
ground vibration tests.
"The auxiliary power unit of the aircraft was fired on Monday
and it turned out to perform quite well," Habibie added.
Habibie yesterday briefed President Soeharto and cabinet
ministers on the progress of the development of the country's
first domestically-designed aircraft which is scheduled to make
its maiden flight on Aug. 10.
Maiden flight
"President Soeharto will witness the maiden flight of the
Gatotkaca aircraft on Aug. 10, or one week before the golden
celebration of National Day," Information Minister Harmoko told
journalists after the cabinet meeting.
Gatotkaca, the name of the flying mythological figure of the
ancient Mahabarata epic, is the N-250 prototype which was rolled
out last November in the presence of President Soeharto.
Habibie said the Allison engine of the aircraft would be
installed next week and the airplane and its whole system would
then undergo thorough tests and checks.
Asked about the sales' financing for the N-250 aircraft,
Habibie said the financings would be arranged by IPTN's
subsidiaries in the United States and Germany.
"We have set up a subsidiary, called Amrai, in the United
States and another one, ASL, in Germany. They will be responsible
for financing N-250 sales in the two countries," he said.
During the rolling-out ceremony of the prototype last
November, Habibie explained that the N-250 would be the first
commercial turboprop airplane to apply the fly-by-wire
technology.
The aircraft will have a minimum cruise speed of 300 knots or
556 kilometers per hour and a flying range of 1,482 kilometers.
Earlier reports said three domestic airlines, Merpati
Nusantara, a subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, Bouraq Airlines and
Sempati Air had signed agreements with IPTN for the purchase of
188 N-250s.
Habibie said last November that the commercial production of
the N-250 aircraft would start in late 1997 immediately after the
airplane obtained airworthiness certification from the U.S.
Federal Aviation Agency.
Several foreign companies are also involved in the N-250
development as the suppliers of components and parts. Included
among them are Boeing, Allison and Collins of the U.S., Messier
Eram and Auxilec of France, Liebherr of Germany and Dowty and
Lucas of Britain.
He said the N-250 would carry a price tag of US$13.5 million.
(04)