Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Aircraft prototype designed by Former Indonesian President B.J Habibie, called Regio Prop 80 (R80), will be manufactured starting the mid of 2016, Commissioner of Regio Aviasi  Industri (RAI) Ilham Habibie said.

"Hopefully by the mid of next year the R80 design will be completed so we can start making the prototype," Habibie said here Thursday.

He said the company is still making the initial design of R80 which among others include the process of selecting the main components such as engines and flight control systems.

Previously, R80 is targeted to fly in 2019, but due to technical problems, Habibie estimated the aircraft will be flown by 2021.

According to him, currently there are three airlines that have ordered the plane with a total number of 145 units, namely Kalstar Indonesia, Nam Water and Trigana Air.

With regard to the aircraft engines RAI will use machine which manufactured by three aircraft engine companies namely Rolls Royce from Britain, Pratt and Whitney as well as General Electric from the United States.

R80 has several advantages over other aircrafts, as it is larger and more saving in fuel consumption.

"The cost of operation of an aircraft fuel reaches 30-50 percent for fuel consumption, so the machine is very decisive.  Other advantages of this plane are related to the aerodynamics, cabin design, advanced material, but the most important is it is 10-15 percent more efficient than  ATR aircraft," Habibie said.

He added the price for R80 cannot be determined yet because the engines and components that will be used have not been determined.

However, Habibie estimated that R80 will be priced at US$22 to 25 million per unit.

R80 is the successor of N250 aircraft manufactured by Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN), which is now called Dirgantara Indonesia.

RAI, which develops the R80, is a manufacturer of commercial aircraft belongs to B.J Habibie. (WDY)

Pewarta:

Editor : I Gusti Bagus Widyantara


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