REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) officially named the N-219 aircraft as Nurtanio at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, here, Friday.
"In the name of Allah, Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I officially name N-219 as the Nurtanio aircraft," the head of state stated.
The Nurtanio aircraft has been developed by the National Aerospace and Aeronautic Institute and state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia.
"The late Air Vice Marshal Nurtanio Pringgodisuryo was a national patriot who fought without expecting anything in return," Jokowi noted while announcing the new name for the N-219.
Pringgodisuryo had dedicated his entire life to Indonesia's aeronautics and died while conducting a test flight.
Jokowi was accompanied by First Lady Iriana; Minister/State Secretary Pratikno; Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi; State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno; Technology, Research, and Higher Education Minister M. Nasir; and Head of the Presidential Staff Office Teten Masduki.
Jokowi called for intensifying the marketing of passenger aircraft.