On the sidelines of an open house on the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr celebration at his residence on Jalan Patra Kuningan here on Sunday Habibie said the plane will be able to fly in the next five years with some design changes.
"We will redesign it including its engine due to a technological gap of more than 20 years," the owner of 46 aeronautical patents said.
On August 11 a signing ceremony was carried out to resume the N250 project that had been halted so far.
For the project Habibie has set up PT Regio Aviasi Industri (RAI) which is a joint venture between PT Ilhabi belonging to his son, Ilham Akbar Habibie and PT Eagle Capital belonging to Erry Firmansyah.
PT Ilhabi owns 51 percent shares while PT Eagle Capital 49 percent while Habibie is the chief commissioner in PT Regio Aviasi Industry.
Seventeen years ago the N250 was targeted to get Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificate in 2000. Now Habibie plans to get the certificate within five years.
(C005)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
