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)