Indonesian Aviation Industry New Hope

Indonesian aircraft manufacturer company, Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) / PT. Dirgantara Indonesia (PT. DI) is currently working on more than 40 aircraft and helicopter assembly orders for the healthy condition of the company who had triumphed in the 1980's. Currently PT. DI is also preparing its newest product namely N-219 is a small transport aircraft, which is expected to fill the needs of the world market will be similar transport aircraft.

Design of N-219 aircraft made by PT. Dirgantara Indonesia. (PIcture from: http://www.indonesian-aerospace.com/)

According to PT. DI Public Relations, Sonny Saleh Ibrahim, that the N-219 aircraft is a short type of aircraft take-off and landing runway that can operate in short runway (600 m), such as in eastern Indonesia. 

The plane with two propellers using Twin Engine PT6A-61 with 850 SHP each, it could carry 19 passengers. Besides the N-219 also has around 1,000 kilometers of cruiser range with speed of 150 knots making it suitable to serve the pioneer routes.

"This is a strategic plan, N-219 is smaller than CASA 212-200 with 19 passengers carrying capacity. Size is more or less like the Twin Otter that the world will end operations and also has the potential to fill a market dominated Cessna Caravan. N-219 already passed wind tunnel tests," said Sonny optimistic.

Technical Specifications of N-219 aircraft. (PIcture from: http://www.indonesian-aerospace.com/)

PT. DI has received support from a number of institutions, such as the Indonesian Assessment and Application of Technology Board (Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi/BPPT) and the Indonesian National Aeronautics and Space Institute (Lembaga Penerbangan dan Antariksa Nasional/LAPAN). As a further step, currently PT. DI is preparing three prototypes of this plane, that will required such development fund reach 45 million U.S. dollars (about Rp. 433 billion). If all support obtained, further Sonny, N-219 can be ready in four years since 2013.

N-219 aircraft cutaway. (PIcture from: http://www.indonesian-aerospace.com/)

N-219 aircraft for PT. DI is a strategic step to build self-reliance and to benefit the aerospace business. Time will prove whether PT. DI will have the support and the opportunities to work with all the world's growing aviation market and the needs of the islands and isolated areas in Indonesia. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PT. DI]
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