Long and Winding Road toward N219

Kompas/Rony Ariyanto Nugroho

An N219 plane made by PT Dirgantara Indonesia and Lapan sets off on its maiden flight from Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung, West Java, Wednesday (16/8). Work on the plane, starting from the design, testing and certification to production was all done by children of Indonesia, without technical assistance from foreign countries. The maiden flight was also a gift for Indonesia on its 72nd Independence Day. The plane is designed to fly to remote regions all over Indonesia.

Blue skies and a warm morning sun greeted the Husein Sastranegara International Airport in Bandung on Wednesday (16/8/2017).

Hundreds of state aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) employees stood in front of the Fixed Wing Hangar and the runway. They all looked enthusiastic and joyful – and perhaps a little tense.