Second N-250 airplane launches maiden flight

BANDUNG, West Java (JP): State aircraft-maker PT IPTN's N-250 medium-range commuter plane finally got off the ground yesterday for a 1.5 hour maiden flight.

The aircraft nicknamed Krincingwesi is the second prototype of the country's first locally-designed medium-range commuter aircraft, N-250.

IPTN has built four N-250 prototypes, the Gatotkoco, Krincingwesi, Koconegoro and Pututguritno. The names come from the ancient Mahabarata epic.

Gatotkoco's maiden flight went ahead on schedule on Nov. 10 last year. But none of the other three prototypes' maiden flights has occurred according to schedule this year.

Krincingwesi was originally scheduled to fly in February, Koconegoro in June and Pututguritno in August.

State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, also IPTN's president, said here yesterday the Krincingwesi aircraft was designed to carry 68 passengers, a few more than the first N- 250 prototype which can carry 50 passengers.

"The third and fourth N-250 prototypes will be prepared with 68 seats. In the meantime, IPTN will also develop N-270 aircraft with 70 seats," he said after witnessing Krincingwesi's successful test flight at Husein Sastranegara airport.

He said it would cost between US$50 million and $100 million to develop the N-270 aircraft, much cheaper than the $600 million required to develop the N-250.

Habibie said the second N-250 prototype was 2.5 meters longer than the first prototype. "There are some modifications in the tail and wings, but we apply the same technology, fly-by-wire."

The second N-250 prototype's weight had been reduced by up to 1,000 kilograms, making it be more fuel efficient, he said.

IPTN aimed to win 15 percent of the world market for that aircraft class, he said.

"A study revealed that between 4,000 and 6,000 aircraft of the N-250 class would be needed in the next two decades. Say that IPTN's market is 15 percent of 4,000, this means 600 airplanes. The company has good prospects since IPTN will break even with its 259 N-250s," he said.

IPTN has received orders for about 200 N-250s. Three overseas firms, International Lease Finance Corp., Gulfstream International of the United States and a European leasing company, have signed agreements with IPTN to buy N-250s. Three domestic airlines, Garuda Indonesia subsidiary Merpati Nusantara, Bouraq Airlines and Sempati Air, have signed accords to buy the aircraft which cost between $13.5 million and $14.2 million each.

Yesterday's flight began after Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto awarded an airworthiness certificate to Habibie.

Krincingwesi was piloted yesterday by Erwin Dhanuwinata and copiloted by Adi Budi.

"The aircraft flew at a height of about 10,000 feet with a speed of 23 nautical miles an hour around the airport, Majalaya and Cianjur of West Java," Erwin said.

Krincingwesi was accompanied by Gatotkoco -- which was piloted by Sumarwoto and copiloted by Andreas -- and a chaser Galeb aircraft.

Besides the N-250 and N-270 aircraft, IPTN will also develop the N-2130, a 130-seat passenger jet. The design, engineering and construction of the N-2130 prototype, led by Habibie's eldest son Ilham Akbar Habibie, will take at least eight years and cost at least $2 billion. It is expected to be ready in 2006. (21/icn)