pr1v4t33r
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2014
- Messages
- 5,042
- Reaction score
- 5
- Country
- Location
Indonesian-Made Aircraft N219 to Have Maiden Flight in April or May
Indonesian-made small propeller plane N219 will have its maiden flight at the end of April or the beginning of May, the Minister of Research, Technology and High Education Mohamad Natsir said on Thursday (09/03).
The plane has been delayed for a year since its developers National Space and Aviation Agency, or Lapan, and Dirgantara Indonesia, or DI, the country's aircraft manufacturer, have been struggling to pass the certification process at the Ministry of Transport.
Local media reported it was N219's unsatisfactory wiring and landing gear design that caused delay in the past twelve months.
Minister Natsir said the new plane is almost ready to face several more tests including electrical grounding bonding test, leak test, fuel tank cleaning test, landing gear drop test and electrical power test, before being cleared to fly for the first time.
"We hope for a maiden flight at the end of April or the beginning of May," Natsir said.
Lapan and DI envisioned N219 as a an all-rounder plane capable of transporting people or cargo to remote regions in Indonesia.
The aircraft uses a 19-seat flexible door system, and can take off and land on short and rough airstrips.
Local airliners like Lion Air — Indonesia's largest budget airline, Nusantara Buana Air, Aviastar Mandiri and Trigana Air Service have already ordered 150 N219s from DI.
http://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesian-made-aircraft-n219-maiden-flight-april-may/
Indonesian-made small propeller plane N219 will have its maiden flight at the end of April or the beginning of May, the Minister of Research, Technology and High Education Mohamad Natsir said on Thursday (09/03).
The plane has been delayed for a year since its developers National Space and Aviation Agency, or Lapan, and Dirgantara Indonesia, or DI, the country's aircraft manufacturer, have been struggling to pass the certification process at the Ministry of Transport.
Local media reported it was N219's unsatisfactory wiring and landing gear design that caused delay in the past twelve months.
Minister Natsir said the new plane is almost ready to face several more tests including electrical grounding bonding test, leak test, fuel tank cleaning test, landing gear drop test and electrical power test, before being cleared to fly for the first time.
"We hope for a maiden flight at the end of April or the beginning of May," Natsir said.
Lapan and DI envisioned N219 as a an all-rounder plane capable of transporting people or cargo to remote regions in Indonesia.
The aircraft uses a 19-seat flexible door system, and can take off and land on short and rough airstrips.
Local airliners like Lion Air — Indonesia's largest budget airline, Nusantara Buana Air, Aviastar Mandiri and Trigana Air Service have already ordered 150 N219s from DI.
http://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesian-made-aircraft-n219-maiden-flight-april-may/