IPTN N250

{{Short description|Cancelled Indonesian turboprop airliner}} {{Redirect|N-250|the Nebraska state highway with this number|Nebraska Highway 250}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = N250 | image = File:IPTN N250.jpg | image_border = yes | caption = N250 prototype PA-1 displayed at Dirgantara Mandala Museum | type = Turboprop regional airliner | national_origin = Indonesia | manufacturer = IPTN / Indonesian Aerospace | designer =  | first_flight = 10 August 1995 | introduction = | retired = 2000 | number_built = 2 | primary users = | status = Cancelled | developed into = | produced = 1994–1996 }}

The '''IPTN N250''' was a turboprop regional airliner designed by Indonesian firm IPTN (''Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara'') (now Indonesian Aerospace). This aircraft was IPTN's first major effort to win the market share of the regional turboprop class of 64–68 seat airliners.<ref name=JAWA2000-01/> The aircraft's development was eventually terminated after the Asian financial crisis of 1998.

==Design and development== The N250 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 N250 was initially described as a propfan commuter plane,<ref name="NaII2-13">{{cite newsletter |issn=0537-4693 |work=Indonesia News & Views |title=Breakthrough for aircraft industry |url={{GBurl|rZXgGCba_loC|pg=RA2-PA4}} |department=News in brief |publication-date=July–August 1989 |volume=2 |number=13 |page=2}}</ref> but on 12 July 1990, IPTN selected the Allison GMA 2100 turboprop to power the aircraft.{{R|"LeyesFleming1999"|p=[{{GBurl|V0SnFt8JGokC|pg=589}} 589]}}

In early 1994, Indonesia announced that Great Britain and four states in the United States were interested in hosting production lines for the final assembly of the N250.<ref name="BT19940228">{{cite news |work=Business Times |location=Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |oclc=29049216 |title=US, UK keen on Indon project |url=https://www.klik.com.my/item/story/448055/us-uk-keen-on-indon-project |publication-date=28 February 1994 |agency=Agence France Presse (AFP)}}</ref> In January 1995, IPTN added Long Island, New York and Macon, Georgia to the previous list of U.S. semifinalists that included Mobile, Alabama, Phoenix, Arizona, and Portland, Oregon,<ref name="AWST19950127">{{cite magazine |issn=0005-2175 |magazine=Aviation Week & Space Technology |title=Indonesian manufacturer IPTN |url=https://aviationweek.com/indonesian-manufacturer-iptn-0 |date=27 January 1995 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> out of an original list of 26 contender cities. In the following month, IPTN selected Mobile and Macon as the final candidates.<ref name="AWST19950217">{{cite magazine |issn=0005-2175 |magazine=Aviation Week & Space Technology |title=Indonesian manufacturer IPTN |url=https://aviationweek.com/indonesian-manufacturer-iptn-1 |date=17 February 1995 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> On 19 May 1995, Indonesia awarded the U.S. assembly of the N250 to Mobile. The U.S. assembly site would be run by American Regional Aircraft Industry (AMRAI), in which IPTN would hold a 40-percent stake.<ref name="ST19950519">{{cite news |issn=0745-9696 |work=Seattle Times |title=Indonesian aircraft maker to open factory in Alabama |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19950519&slug=2121871 |publication-date=19 May 1995}}</ref> Planned production was to be one plane per week from IPTN's home factory in Bandung, West Java and up to two planes per week from the Mobile factory.<ref name="FBIS-EAS-95-166">{{cite news |work=Daily report: East Asia |title=Official interviewed on aircraft production |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112083416005?urlappend=%3Bseq=445%3Bownerid=113917365-449 |date=11 August 1995 |pages=61–62 |publication-date=28 August 1995 |department=Southeast Asia: Indonesia |agency=Bisnis Indonesia |volume=FBIS-EAS-95-166 |translator=Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) |hdl=2027/uiug.30112083416005}}</ref> The flying aircraft was officially unveiled at the Indonesian Air Show '96,<ref name="UPI19960622">{{cite news |agency=United Press International (UPI) |title=Indonesia Air Show '96 opens |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/06/22/Indonesia-Air-Show-96-opens/2596835416000/ |date=22 June 1996}}</ref> and it also performed at the 1997 Paris Air Show<ref name="PM199709">{{cite magazine |issn=0032-4558 |magazine=Popular Mechanics |title=The 1997 Paris Air Show |url={{GBurl|K2YEAAAAMBAJ|p=24}} |publication-date=September 1997 |page=24 |department=Tech update |volume=174 |number=9}}</ref> and the 1998 Asian Aerospace show.<ref name="SeattleTimes19980322">{{cite news |issn=0745-9696 |work=Seattle Times |title=Dangerous liaison |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19980322&slug=2741104 |date=22 March 1998 |given=Stanley |surname=Holmes}}</ref>

The first assembled prototype, which had a capacity of 50 passengers, was initially rolled out on 10 November 1994 in Bandung during the run-up to the 1994 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which Indonesia was hosting.<ref name="IPS19941111">{{cite news |publisher=Inter Press Service |date=11 November 1994 |given=Johanna |surname=Son |title=APEC-INDONESIA: Jakarta uneasy under media glare |url=http://www.ipsnews.net/1994/11/apec-indonesia-jakarta-uneasy-under-media-glare-1-an-inter-press-service-feature/}}</ref> This prototype, which had a serial number of PA-1, then flew for the first time on 10 August 1995.<ref name="FI19950815">{{cite magazine |issn=0015-3710 |magazine=Flight International |title=IPTN wins approval as N250 flies |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/iptn-wins-approval-as-n-250-flies/15180.article |given=Paul |surname=Lewis |date=15 August 1995 |url-access=limited}}</ref> It was successfully tested to a cruise speed of {{convert|727.8|kph|mph kn|sp=us}} at {{convert|25,000|ft|order=flip|sp=us}} altitude, and {{cvt|744.5|kph|mph kn}} at {{cvt|17,000|ft|order=flip}} altitude.<ref name="NewsViews199604">{{cite newsletter |issn=0537-4693 |work=News & Views Indonesia |title=Gatotkoco passes tests with flying colors |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x006061222?urlappend=%3Bseq=154%3Bownerid=27021597769858577-200 |publication-date=April 1996 |pages=8–9 |department=Trade & investment |volume=9 |number=83 |hdl=2027/uva.x006061222}}</ref> The second prototype was a stretched variant with a capacity of 64–68 passengers, and it was designated as the N250-100. The N250-100 was planned to have its first flight in May 1996, but the PA-2 prototype instead had its initial flight eight months behind schedule on 19 December 1996.<ref name="FI19970107">{{cite magazine |issn=0015-3710 |magazine=Flight International |title=N250 flight |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/n250-flight/689.article |date=7 January 1997 |url-access=limited}}</ref> The third and fourth prototypes were planned to first fly in July 1996 and September 1996 respectively.

Construction for the additional prototypes was halted because of the effects of the Asian financial crisis. Although the IPTN was about halfway through its 1,400-hour flight test program, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) required the Indonesian government to end support of the N250 program as part of the IMF's US$43 billion government bailout plan. Because of this event, IPTN postponed the aircraft's certification from March 1999 to the fourth quarter of 2000. Later, IPTN postponed certification indefinitely so that it could recruit a risk-sharing partner to help complete the program.<ref name="AIN200110">{{cite magazine |issn=0887-9877 |magazine=Aviation International News (AIN) |title=Fresh designs promise answer to evolving market demands |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2007-11-26/fresh-designs-promise-answer-evolving-market-demands |pages=R10–R14 |publication-date=October 2001 |date=26 November 2007 |given=Gregory |surname=Polek |volume=33 |number=18}}</ref>

===After termination=== thumb|The two N250 prototypes on display at Indonesian Aerospace facility in 2018 There has been some consideration concerning the program's revival by the former director of the IPTN and, later, the former Indonesian president B. J. 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 (RAI), led by both of Habibie's sons, agreed to finance N250. It will use a new name, R80.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mediaindonesia.com/read/2012/08/11/340047/21/2/Perjanjian-Proyek-Pesawat-N250-Sudah-Ditandatangani |title=Perjanjian Proyek Pesawat N250 Sudah Ditandatangani |date=11 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105033257/http://www.mediaindonesia.com/read/2012/08/11/340047/21/2/Perjanjian-Proyek-Pesawat-N250-Sudah-Ditandatangani |archive-date=5 January 2013 |df=dmy-all |language=Indonesian}}</ref>

On 26 September 2013, Nam Air signed an order for 50 R80 with an option for 50 more aircraft, to be delivered in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20130926/98/165555/nam-air-pesan-100-pesawat-r80|title=NAM Air Pesan 100 Pesawat R80|website=ekonomi.bisnis.com|date=26 September 2013|access-date=29 March 2021|language=id}}</ref>

On 22 February 2018, RAI signed a memorandum of understanding with Leonardo Aerostructures to help fund and complete the development of the R80. The company hoped to build four hundred R80 aircraft over 20 years. It completed a preliminary design and feasibility test of the 80-90 seat aircraft in 2016 and hoped to finish detail designing and prototype manufacturing by 2019. RAI planned to build six prototypes, with flight testing from 2020 to 2022, and targeted issuance of a type certificate from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2025. The price of the R80 would be USD$25 million.<ref name="JG20180223">{{cite news |work=Jakarta Globe |title=Indonesian Manufacturer RAI to Build R80 Prototype With Help From Leonardo, LAER |url=https://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesian-manufacturer-rai-build-r80-prototype-help-leonardo-laer/ |date=23 February 2018 |given=Sarah |surname=Yuniarni |location=Jakarta, Indonesia}}</ref>

B. J. Habibie's son, Ilham Akbar Habibie, advocated for the production of the aircraft as one of its competitors, the Fokker 50, was no longer produced by Fokker which went bankrupt in 1996. The remaining two competitors for the N250 were the ATR 72 and Bombardier Dash 8.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.viva.co.id/arsip/344288-seberapa-tangguh-pesaing-pesawat-n250|title=Seberapa Tangguh Pesaing Pesawat N250|website=viva.co.id|date=14 August 2012|access-date=29 March 2021|language=id}}</ref>

As of 21 August 2020, the PA-1 prototype is on display at Dirgantara Mandala Museum, Yogyakarta, as its 60th collection.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kusuma|first=W|title=Pesawat N-250 Gatotkaca Tiba di Museum Dirgantara Mandala Yogyakarta |url=https://regional.kompas.com/read/2020/08/21/13384641/pesawat-n-250-gatotkaca-tiba-di-museum-dirgantara-mandala-yogyakarta|website=KOMPAS.com|date=21 August 2020|language=id|access-date=2020-08-21}}</ref>

==Variants== thumb|N250-100 prototype PA-2 in 2017

;N250 :The initial prototype with a capacity of 50 passengers. One produced (PA-1) and named "Gatotkaca"

;N250-100 :The second prototype is a stretched version, capable of carrying 68 passengers. One produced (PA-2) and named "Krincingwesi". First flight on 19 December 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indoaviation.asia/ini-cerita-pesawat-n250-60-krincingwesi-terbang-perdana/|title=Ini Cerita Pesawat N250 (60) Krincingwesi Terbang Perdana|website=indoaviation.asia|date=30 May 2020|access-date=25 March 2021|language=id}}</ref>

;N270 :Further stretched variant, 3 meters longer than N250-100 capable of carrying 72 passengers. Planned to be produced as the third prototype (PA-3) and will be named "Putut Guritno" or "Koco Negoro". Completion was planned for 18 months after N250-100's first flight and some integral parts like the fuselage, center wing and engines were already or almost completed, however development stalled after the Asian financial crisis of 1998.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kisah Pak Harto Beri Nama 4 Versi Pesawat N-250 Buatan Bandung |url=https://finance.detik.com/industri/d-2173280/-kisah-pak-harto-beri-nama-4-versi-pesawat-n-250-buatan-bandung |publisher=Detik.com |access-date=7 April 2018 |language=Indonesian}}</ref> Also known as the N250-200.<ref name="FI19970318">{{cite magazine |issn=0015-3710 |magazine=Flight International |title=IPTN calls in Europeans on N250 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/iptncalls-in-europeans-on-n250/162.article |date=18 March 1997}}</ref>

;RAI R80 RegioProp :Rebuilding program of N250 by B.J. Habibie under PT Regio Aviasi Industri. Planned for conducting its first flight between 2019 and 2020. When finished, it will be able to carry up to 92 passengers with a range of up to 800 nm (1.481 km). LoIs have been signed by NAM Air for ordering 100 planes consisting 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 Airlines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.regio-aviasi.co.id/rai/view.php?m=ourprogram&t=ourprogram-detil&id=7/ |title=R80 Product Specification |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313023529/http://www.regio-aviasi.co.id/rai/view.php?m=ourprogram&t=ourprogram-detil&id=7%2F |archive-date=13 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.regio-aviasi.co.id/rai/view.php?m=berita&t=berita-detil&id=15/ |title=Kalstar Aviation Tertarik Pesan 25 Pesawat R80 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313021907/http://www.regio-aviasi.co.id/rai/view.php?m=berita&t=berita-detil&id=15%2F |archive-date=13 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Specifications (N250-100)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=''Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2000–01''<ref name=JAWA2000-01>{{cite book |title=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2000–01 |editor1-last=Jackson |editor1-first=Paul|year=2000 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=Coulsdon, Surrey, United Kingdom |isbn=978-0710620118 |edition=94th |pages=185–186}}</ref> |prime units?=met  |crew=2 |capacity=64-68 passengers / {{cvt|6200|kg|0}} payload |length m=28.15 |length note= |span m=28 |span note= |height m=8.79 |height note= |wing area sqm=65 |wing area note= |aspect ratio=12:1 |airfoil='''root:''' NASA MS(1)-0317 (modified NASA MD2); '''tip:''' NASA MS(1)-0317 (modified NASA MD3) |empty weight kg=15700 |empty weight note=operating empty weight |gross weight kg= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg=24800 |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity={{cvt|4200|kg|0}} |more general=  |eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=Allison AE2100C |eng1 type=turboprop engines |eng1 kw=2439 |eng1 note=

|prop blade number=6 |prop name=Dowty Rotol R384/6123-FX8 |prop dia m=3.81 |prop dia note=constant-speed fully feathering reversible propellers  |max speed kmh= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh=611 |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh=195 |stall speed note=EAS flaps up, power off |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed note= |range km=1270 |range note= |combat range km= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m=9140 |ceiling note= |ceiling sigfig=1 |climb rate ms= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |wing loading kg/m2=381.5 |wing loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |power/mass={{cvt|0.197|kW/kg}} |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== {{Portal|Indonesia|Aviation}} {{aircontent |related= * Indonesian Aerospace N245 |similar aircraft= * ATR 72 * Bombardier Q400 * Saab 2000 }}

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="LeyesFleming1999">{{cite book|last= Leyes II |first= Richard A. |author2=William A. Fleming |title= The History of North American Small Gas Turbine Aircraft Engines |publisher= Smithsonian Institution |location= Washington, DC |date= 1999 |isbn= 1-56347-332-1 |url={{GBurl|V0SnFt8JGokC|pg=frontcover}} |oclc=247550535}}</ref> }}

==Further reading== {{refbegin}} * Angkasa Magazine Collector's Edition: Golden Path of the Making of N250: Effort to Dominate Aviation, 2014 (Indonesian) * {{cite report |given=Peder A. |surname=Andersen |publisher=U.S. International Trade Commission |title=The changing structure of the global large civil aircraft industry and market: Implications for the competitiveness of the U.S. industry |section=Indonesia |section-url=https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub3143.pdf#page=118 |pages=5–26 to 5–34 |publication-date=1 November 1998 |volume=332–384 |series=3143 |year=1998 |hdl=2027/uc1.31822028344232 |doi=10.2139/ssrn.1452731 |oclc=41615581}} * {{cite magazine |issn=0015-3710 |magazine=Flight International |title=-IPTN's N250 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/-iptns-n250/6651.article |date=18 June 1996 |url-access=limited}} * {{cite news |work=JPRS report: Environmental issues |title=Suharto to be tried for alleged misuse of funds |url=https://archive.org/details/jprs-report_jprs-ten-94-024/page/13 |date=14 October 1994 |pages=13–14 |publication-date=4 October 1994 |place=Jakarta |publication-place=Hong Kong |department=Indonesia |agency=Agence France Presse (AFP) |volume=JPRS-TEN-94-024}} * {{cite magazine |issn=0018-8778 |magazine=ICAO bulletin: Official magazine of international civil aviation |url=https://www.icao.int/publications/journalsreports/1989/4408.djvu |format=DjVu |title=IPTN: Indonesia's aircraft manufacturer continues to diversify |volume=44 |number=8 |pages=10–11 |publication-date=August 1989}} **{{cite web |title=ICAO Journal |website=International Civil Aviation Organization |url=https://www.icao.int/publications/Pages/ICAO-Journal.aspx?year=1989&lang=en}} {{refend}}

==External links== {{commons category|IPTN N250}} * [http://www.indonesian-aerospace.com/ PT Dirgantara Indonesia] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060307210701/http://www.dprin.go.id/links/pt_iptn/250-ti.htm PT-IPTN N250 Departemen Perindustrian] * [http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=257 IPTN N-250 at airliners.net]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iae N250}} Category:1990s Indonesian airliners N250 Category:High-wing aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1995 Category:Twin-turboprop tractor aircraft Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear Category:T-tail aircraft Category:Abandoned civil aircraft projects