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Issue 18: March 1983
Indonesia Shows Us the Way
It’s so easy here in Australia to dismiss the Indonesians as struggling third-worlders. Yet in many ways, the opposite is true, particularly in the realm of high-tech aerospace production.
The recent signing of Nurtanio with Bell Helicopter Textron for the production of 100 or more Bell 412 medium-lift helicopters is a classic example of the vigour that this rapidly expanding aerospace manufacturer is exhibiting for the future of the indigenous Indonesian aviation industry. Nurtanio hopes to be employing more than 10,000 people by the mid-eighties and is already well advanced in developing a major airframe project in the 34/36 seat CN 235 in collaboration with CASA of Spain. Nurtanio already speak of orders for the CN 235 totalling fifty units while their C. 212 Aviocar has been in production now for several years. Nurtanio also is licensed to produce the sophisticated Bolkow Bo105, the Aerospatiale SA. 330J Puma and the SA. 332 Super Puma. All relatively complex aircraft, that make our recent aerospace achievements pale in comparison. Australia of course is looking forward to a major technology transfer via the F-18A programme and has picked up much useful work in recent years through the offsets trade. We are designing our own basic trainer, though even the marketing people are willing to admit that it Is going into the marketplace swamped with similar types. Hopefully, it won’t have the commercial rug pulled from under it by a Government that is only now realising that there is potential for Australia to be involved in the international aerospace scene.
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