Indonesian Air Force Purchases Aircraft

Yogyakarta (Antara) - The Indonesian Air Force has increased the strength of its armaments, with the addition of German Grob G120TP-A training aircraft, and they are located at Adisucipto Air Base, Yogyakarta. "We have purchased four new training aircraft s and they will help to increase the strength of Air Force armaments," said Adisucipto Air Base¿s Head of Information and Library Major Sus Hamdi Londong Allo on Thursday. He added that the four training aircraft have been assembled and successfully tested at Adisucipto Air Base. There is a plan to purchase 16 Grob G120TP-A training aircraft by 2014. "Grob G120TP-A will substitute AS 202 Bravo. Grob G120TP-A was selected after an in-depth assessment; it has also met the operational requirements," he said. He explained that Grob G120TP-A has several advantages ¿ it has a maximum speed of 439 kmph (237 knots) and Rolls Royce 250-B17F turbo-engine with five blades. "The engine is capable of producing maximum power of 380 SHP continuously and reach 456 SHP during five minutes of maximum condition," he said. He also mentioned that the two wings of Grob G120TP-A act as a tank and can hold 360 litres of fuel, sufficient for five hours of flight with a 45-minute reserve. There are also two control sticks located in front of the pilot and instructor. "The Air Force has also ordered analogue avionics because novice pilots and students should be aware of how basic flight instruments function," he said. (*)