Ex-President Lauds Plan To Develop R80 Aircraft As Strategic Project

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesia's former president B.J. Habibie has lauded the government's proposal to position the development of R80 aircraft as a national strategic project.

"I think this is normal. What would Indonesia be without airplanes? We have to make aircraft, because we cannot afford to buy them," Habibie said on the sideline of a seminar here on Monday.

With domestic potential and economic capacity, Indonesia's demand for airplanes and other aerospace products would continue to increase, Habibie remarked.

He stated that the plan to develop Regio Prop 80 or R80 aircraft as a national strategic project has shown the nation's optimism to produce quality aerospace products.

"We can do that, no doubt. We have proved this. You are better than this grandfather...," the 80-year old ex-president said, referring to him as an elderly figure.

He believed that the government and the new generation in aerospace industry are capable of building the R80 aircraft.

"I am optimistic about our future. It's all in your hands," the former president noted.

Previously, the Director General of Metal, Machinery, Transport Equipment, and Electronic at Industry Ministry, I Gusti Putu Suryawirawan remarked that the development of two aircraft prototypes, namely R80 which was designed by Habibie, and N245, are proposed to become national strategic projects in 2017.

The R80 type would be built by PT Regio Aviasi Industri (RAI), a commercial aircraft development company established by BJ Habibie and his son Ilham Akbar Habibie.

The N245 type would be built by PT Dirgantara Indonesia and National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN).

The two types would be used as medium-range passenger planes.

Both companies are expected to arrange some US$180-200 million (Rp2.6 trillion) for investment toward the development of the aircraft. (WDY)