Soeharto opens Indonesia Air Show '96
JAKARTA (JP): The aerobatics of Indonesian and British squadrons as well as skydivers carrying the flags of the 23 participating countries marked the opening yesterday of an ambitious air show at the Soekarno-Hatta international airport.
Fighters flown by Indonesia's Elang Biru team and Britain's Royal Air Force Red Arrows graced the sky for 42 minutes after President Soeharto opened Indonesia Air Show '96.
The opening of the nine-day event was also marked by a fly- past of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters made by the state- owned PT Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN).
"With the rapid progress in aerospace technology made by other countries, along with the progress Indonesia has made in this technology, future air shows of this kind can be held at a shorter interval, once in two years," Soeharto told more than 2,000 guests attending yesterday's opening ceremony.
"Beginning in 1998, this air show will be called the Asia- Pacific Hi-Tech and Aerospace Show," he said.
This year's air show, the second after the 1986 event, is participated in by 280 firms from 23 countries, including Indonesia, which exhibits its latest military and commercial aviation technology products.
Because the event is limited to business and closed to the public until Friday, people lined the sides of the toll road leading to the airport in order to enjoy seeing the aerobatics.
Deals
IPTN's president, B.J. Habibie, who is also minister for research and technology, signed agreements yesterday with executives of domestic air carriers for sales of the N-250 turboprop passenger aircraft with a fly-by-wire system.
Sempati Air signed a contract to buy six N-250 aircraft with an option of another 10, Merpati Nusantara Airlines to buy 15 with another 85 optional and Bouraq Airlines to buy five.
Mandala Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding to buy up to 20 N-250s and Gatari Air Service to buy two with another one optional.
The N-250, worth about US$14 million, is the country's first wholly designed commuter aircraft, which utilizes various overseas engines and aviation electronics systems.
Habibie said that the N-250, which performed its maiden flight last August, has undergone 300 hours of test flights.
Airworthiness standardization requires 450 hours of flight.
Besides the N-250, the Bandung-based IPTN is now also developing a passenger jet, to be called N-2130.
The N-2130, to be designed to have a configuration of 80, 100 and 130 seats, is expected to enter the market in late 2004.
Habibie also signed an agreement yesterday with Minister of Defense and Security Gen. (ret) Edi Sudradjat on the supply of six CN-235s with military equipment, six NC-212 planes, three NBO-105 helicopters and one NBell-412 helicopter for the Armed Forces.
A senior manager of IPTN, B. Aviantoso Nurtanio, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the company also inked a memorandum of agreement with the country's flag carrier Garuda Indonesia on the supply of up to 20 N-2130s.
Sempati also signed an agreement to buy up to 51 N-2130s, including 30 optional, while Merpati planned to buy up to 15 such jets.
Garuda's president Soepandi said yesterday that his company would also order McDonnell MD-11 aircraft.
A Garuda director, Dharmadi told the Post. that the airline also plans to order five B-737-500s and 12 B-737-300 from Boeing Co..
"We are still considering whether to buy B-777 or B-747-400 jets," he said. (icn)
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