Wingspan 30 m Introduced 15 June 1997 | Length 26 m First flight August 10, 1995 | |
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The IPTN N-250 is a regional aircraft commuter turboprop, an original design by the Indonesian firm IPTN (Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara) (now Indonesian Aerospace), N letter in front of -250 stands for Nurtanio or Nusantara and 250 denotes a twin-engined aircraft with a capacity of 50 passengers. This aircraft was IPTN's first major effort to win the market share of the regional turboprop class of 50–70 seat airliners. The aircraft was the star exhibit at the 1996 Indonesian Air Show in Cengkareng, but its development was eventually cancelled after the Asian financial crisis of 1998.
Contents
- Design and development
- After the cancellation
- Performance
- Variants
- Further planned developments
- Specifications
- References
Design and development
The N-250 development plan was first revealed by PT IPTN (now PT Dirgantara Indonesia,Indonesian Aerospace) at the Paris Air Show in 1989, but was first introduced in 1986 when the Indonesian Air Show 1986 was held. The first prototype, serial number PA-1 with a capacity of 50 passengers, flew on 10 August 1995. The Second prototype, a stretched variant with a capacity of 70 passengers named N250-100, was planned to have its first flight on May 1996, but this was delayed and the plane was instead first flown on 19 December 1996. The third and fourth prototypes were planned to first fly on July 1996 and September 1996 respectively, but construction for both aircraft were halted due to the financial meltdown in Asia the following year.
After the cancellation
There has been some consideration concerning the program's revival by former Indonesian president BJ Habibie after having received approval from the incumbent president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. However, to reduce production costs and improve price competitiveness in international markets, changes were made which have resulted in reduced performance such as a reduction in engine capacity, and the removal of the fly-by-wire system. The planned reborn plane was planned to be named N250R.
In August 2012, both developing parties, Erry Firmansyah of PT Eagle Cap and PT Regio Aviasi Industri, led by both of Habibie's sons, agreed to finance N-250. It will use a new name, R-80.
On 26 September 2013, Nam Air signed an order for 50 R-80 with an option for 50 more aircraft,to be delivered in 2018.
B.J. Habibie advocated production of the plane (although now he is no longer a director at IPTN) as its only rival, the Fokker F-50 is no longer in production because of Fokker Aviation's bankruptcy in 1996.
Performance
The aircraft uses two 2439 KW Allison AE 2100C turboprop engines. It is able to fly with a maximum speed of 610 km/h (330 m/ph) and cruising speed of 555 km/h, making it the fastest plane of its class at the time. It has an operating altitude of 25,000 feet (7620 meters) and an operational range of 1480 km.
Variants
N250
The initial prototype with a capacity of 50 passengers.
N250-100
The second prototype is capable of carrying 70 passengers. Initial designation was "N270". It is rumored that this is the variant IAe and Habibie plans to bring back into production by 2017, this time designated the "RegioProp".
Further planned developments
RegioProp R-80
Re-building program of N-250 by B.J Habibie under PT. Regio Aviasi Industri name. Planned for conducting its first flight between 2019-2020. When finished, it will able to carry up to 92 passengers with range up to 800 nm(1.481 km). LoI has been signed by NAM Air for ordering 100 planes consists of 50 firm orders and 50 optional orders, and Kalstar Aviation for 25 planes. Other airlines that have expressed their interest including Wings Air, Citilink, Sky Aviation and Merpati Nusantara
Specifications
Data from Angkasa Magazine Collector's Edition no.88 Year 2014
General characteristics
Performance