In the event, the President was accompanied by the First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo. Some ministers who came to the event were Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, State Secretary Minister Pratikno, the Minister of Research, Technology and High Education Mohamad Nasir, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartato, Minister of State-Owned Corporation Rini Soemarno, Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu, the Commander of the Indonesian National Army Gatot Nurmantyo, and also three Staff Chiefs from Air Force, Army, and Navy.

The Indonesian President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) awarded a name to N219, a two-engine aircraft with its capacity for 19 passengers, Nurtanio at Halim Perdana Kusuma, TNI AU’s (Indonesian Air Force) Airport, East Jakarta, Friday (10/11) morning,

Nurtanio was taken from the founder of Indonesian aviation industry, Air Force Rear Admiral Nurtanio Pringgoadisuryo.

In the opening speech, the President said that the Rear Admiral Nurtanio was a national hero that had fought without ulterior motives. All his (Nurtanio) life was fully dedicated for the Indonesian Air Force. Sadly, he was killed in an aero test.

Furthermore, the President reminded of a statement from Nurtanio that should always be remembered. “Don’t create chaos, but work. And this is the work of our generation as the successors of Nurtanio and will keep continuing to inherit the works to our young generations,” said Jokowi copied the Nurtanio’s statement.

After Jokowi awarded the name officially to the N219 aircraft, some primary school students also enlivened the inauguration flying the paper airplane in red and white.

Next, Nurtanio flew over the Halim Perdanakusuma airport accordingly. Taking the opportunity, the President witnessed the Nurtanio, that was piloted by the only one female pilot in Indonesia Capt. Esther Gayatri S., took off.  

The N219 is a part of the aero developing program built by LAPAN (Lembaga Penerbangan dan Antariksa Nasional) that work together with PT. Digantara Indonesia (PTDI).  

This type of aircraft will be applied as the Sea Toll connection that is oriented on logistic and passengers from secluded or isolated areas.

The commercial value

When the Jokowi gave his statement to the press before his leaving for Vietnam in the Halim Perdanakusuma airport, Jakarta, Friday (10/11), he said that the N219 had just awarded a name, Nurtanio that should be marketable.

“After this process, the next process is business process. The aircraft should be marketable and commercialized. It should be able to enter industrial world. It means that there should be a client to purchase the carrier,” said the President. Moreover, the President said about his hopes that the business process for N219 Nurtanio would affect the development of industry in Indonesia, mainly the aviation industry would be more developing.

The Advantages of N219

N219 is a light aircraft with its ability to operate in secluded area (isolated, secluded and hinterland). The N219 has advantages like:

-     Can take off in short base.

-     Can take off and land on asphalt base.

-     Can do self-starting without any assistance from ground support unit.

-     Can operate using minimal ground support equipment.

-     Has the most spacious cabin and competitive price.

-     Can do low fly with a very low speed for 59 knots.

-    Multihop Capability Fuel Tank, a technology that make the carrier not necessary refill the fuel to continue its journey to the next route. 

N219 "Nurtanio" aircraft is expected to be able to answer the need in serving the operation of hinterland airport and to dominate the airplane market in its class.