Habibie Called N219 Aircraft 'A Toy'
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Kamis, 1 Januari 1970 07:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Former Indonesian President BJ Habibie, founder of PT Dirgantara Indonesia disliked the company’s new aircraft N219, comparing it to ‘a toy’. The 19-passenger aircraft was created and designed for remote areas in Indonesia.
Budi Santoso, PT Dirgantara Indonesia CEO expected the N219 to be a model for young engineers who have recently joined the company to manufacture a more advanced aircraft in the future.
Habibie oftens reprimand us and wonders why we would always make ‘minature aircrafts’, Budi told Tempo on Saturday, October 31.
He quoted Habibie saying the manufacturing of N219 aircraft is a setback, as the previous N250 had larger capacity of 50 passengers and was more advanced, which can be flown electronically or fly by wire, a system that replaces manual control.
Although smaller, the N219 is more advanced by utilizing digital technology in design and measurement, said Budi.
Economic issues and functions were also considered in the making of the aircraft. The compact N219 aircraft can land in pioneer runways throughout Indonesia, which are made manually for 500-meter runways.
The aircraft expected to rollout in November is also designed to fly and land in mountainous areas throughout Indonesia.
NATALIA SANTI
