The Struggle Behind PTDI's N219 Aircraft
Wisma Putra - detikJabar
Monday, 22 May 2023 07:00 WIB
Senior Flight Test Engineer PTDI Hindawan Hariowibowo (Foto: Anzala Ajra)
Bandung -
Flight test of the N219 aircraft produced by PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) was completed in 2020. Thus, the Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operation (DKPPU) of the Ministry of Transportation also gave a Type Certificate for the aircraft named Nurtanio by President Joko Widodo.
In addition to the pilot and co-pilot, the success of the N219 aircraft flight test is inseparable from a flight test technician. He is Hindawan Hariowibowo, the man who was born in Jakarta 61 years ago is a witness to the history of the journey of the N219 aircraft.
detikJabar had the opportunity to visit Hindawan's work desk at PTDI, Jalan Padjajaran, Bandung City, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. In the conversation, the man who graduated from master's degree at Cranfield Institute of Technology in England said, it takes a long time to test the N219 aircraft.
"For N219 flight test development and certification of 500 hours, we completed almost 2 years," said Hindawan opening the conversation.
Hindawan, who has pursued a career at PTDI since he was 24 years old, revealed that there were two prototypes of the N219 aircraft that were carried out flight tests. This is done so that the testing process that must reach 500 hours can be completed quickly.
The first prototype, the flight test includes physical flight, including how the climbing ability, how the cruising speed for example, then includes flight tests of control stability. For the second prototype, namely for flight tests the system includes its avionics, radio, then radar and navigation systems.
"The test journey was actually from the first flight, we were in 2017, at the end of August, and we got the certification at the end of 2020 in December. So during that period we were a long time in the first prototype, so the iteration time, especially in flight control, we found some problem, then we have to modify it, we strengthened what the flight control mounts are, for example, like that, now after it feels better, it will be submitted for certification, "he said.
Senior Flight Test Engineer N219 PTDI Hindawan Hariowibowo Photo: Anzala Ajra |
Hindawan said, every test flight of the N219 aircraft he participated with the pilot and other crew. Hindawan also flew and felt the shortcomings of the aircraft and recorded them for later refinement.
"Yes, so if I do the job, it will be as a fligh test engineer, the term is to be a flight test engineer. For example, if for the climb test we test at what altitude, then at what weight the aircraft, then at what temperature we arrange the flight test plan. Now from there we will discuss with the pilot this can be done or not, if the danger is done or the risk is anything, well like we discuss with the pilot test, well after that we will participate on board again, "he explained.
"When conducting flight tests, engineers record the data even though we are backed up whether instrumentation is also right, but we record, if there is something that needs to be repeated, we discuss again with the pilot," he added.
Hindawan admitted that he was proud to be involved in testing this N219 aircraft. As is known, almost half of this aircraft component is produced in Indonesia. "Finally succeeded, very relieved," he said.
(wip/yum)
Ada peran Hindawan Harowibowo di balik keberhasilan pesawat N219 produksi PT DI. Begini kisahnya saat detik-detik uji terbang pesawat buatan anak bangsa itu.
www.detik.com
