Issue No 21 THE 111OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP Major Nurtanio Major Nurtanio
Pringgoadisuryo stands beside the Pringgoadisuryo stands beside the Pringgoadisuryo stands beside the
NU-200 Sikumbang on its roll-out NU-200 Sikumbang on its roll-out NU-200 Sikumbang on its roll-out
at Bandung in the summer of 1954. at Bandung in the summer of 1954. at Bandung in the summer of 1954.
For this article we have used the For this article we have used the For this article we have used the
Indonesian custom of putting Indonesian custom of putting Indonesian custom of putting
the surname first. LEFT A rare the surname first. LEFT A rare the surname first. LEFT A rare
photograph of Nurtanio in photograph of Nurtanio in photograph of Nurtanio in
his AURI uniform. Nurtanio his AURI uniform. Nurtanio his AURI uniform. Nurtanio
was the driving force was the driving force was the driving force
behind the establishment behind the establishment behind the establishment
of Indonesia’s nascent of Indonesia’s nascent of Indonesia’s nascent
aircraft industry.aircraft industry.aircraft industry.M
OSTLY KNOWN today in
aviation terms as a builder
of foreign designs under
licence, Indonesia has
traditionally punched well
below its weight when it comes to aeronautical
development, particularly in light of its status as
the world’s largest island nation and the fourth
most populous country on the planet. However,
there was a period in the 1950s when Indonesian
resourcefulness and ingenuity was mobilised
to produce of a handful of homegrown
military and civil aircraft, largely thanks to the
determination and passion of one man — pilot
and aircraft designer Nurtanio Pringgoadisuryo.
Born on December 3, 1923, in Kandangan,
South Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo (then
part of the Netherlands East Indies — NEI),
Nurtanio developed an early interest in aviation,
becoming an avid subscriber to Dutch bi-weekly
magazine Vliegwereld. Indeed, such was the
young Nurtanio’s enthusiasm that he regularly
corresponded with the magazine, requesting
details and more information to help with his
all-consuming hobby of aeromodelling. The
latter activity put him in touch with other local
enthusiasts, including Wiweko Soepono and R.J.
Salatun, both of whom, with Nurtanio, would go
on to play significant roles in the establishment
of Indonesia’s post-war aircraft industry.the young pioneer
When the Japanese invaded Borneo and the rest
of the NEI in 1941, Nurtanio was at technical
college, where he had already established the
Junior Aero Club for like-minded individuals
to get together and build basic flyable model
aircraft. He also began reading every book
he could get his hands on about aeronautical he could get his hands on about aeronautical
engineering, most of which were in German engineering, most of which were in German engineering, most of which were in German
(English being banned by the Japanese), (English being banned by the Japanese), (English being banned by the Japanese),
which no doubt influenced his which no doubt influenced his which no doubt influenced his
decision to begin work on decision to begin work on decision to begin work on
designing and building his own designing and building his own designing and building his own
full-scale version of Alexander full-scale version of Alexander full-scale version of Alexander
Lippisch’s 1926-vintage Zögling Lippisch’s 1926-vintage Zögling Lippisch’s 1926-vintage Zögling
high-wing cable-braced single-high-wing cable-braced single-high-wing cable-braced single-
seat glider, although it is unclear if seat glider, although it is unclear if seat glider, although it is unclear if
it was ever completed and flown.it was ever completed and flown.it was ever completed and flown.
In 1945 Nurtanio joined the In 1945 Nurtanio joined the In 1945 Nurtanio joined the
newly-minted aviation division of newly-minted aviation division of newly-minted aviation division of
the People’s Security Force, which the People’s Security Force, which the People’s Security Force, which
formed the nucleus of what formed the nucleus of what formed the nucleus of what
would become the would become the Angkatan Angkatan
Udara Republik IndonesiUdara Republik IndonesiUdara Republik Indonesia
(AURI — Indonesian (AURI — Indonesian (AURI — Indonesian
Air Force), at
Yogyakarta on Java, Yogyakarta on Java, Yogyakarta on Java,
working in thePlanning & Information Department, where he
was reunited with Wiweko. Despite the turmoil
of the ongoing Indonesian War of Independence,
in which numerous factions vied with each
other to fill the power vacuum left in the wake
of Japan’s surrender in August 1945, Nurtanio
and Wiweko set to work to build six Zögling-
based glider designs of their own, given the
designation NWG (Nurtanio Wiweko Glider).
The glider was built at Maospati in eastern
Java, and is the only Indonesian aircraft ever
to have been constructed entirely from local
materials, mainly jamuju conifer wood for the
fuselage structure, locally-spun fabric for the
wings and, intriguingly, “cow’s-lips porridge”
(cingur) to hold parts of it together. The NWGs
were then to be used to give cadet pilots ab
initio flying training, after which they would be
sent to India for further training. Nurtanio later
pointed out that of the cadets who had received
initial instruction on the NWGs and went on
to undergo powered-flight training, none was
“washed out”, all ultimately becoming officers
in the nascent AURI.
As an aside, in 1947 Wiweko designed
and built a light aircraft of parasol-wing
configuration, the WEL-1 (for Wiweko
Experimental, Light), powered by a 28 h.p.
Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine — which,
despite an acute shortage of materials, moved
from drawing-board to first flight in a mere five
months. It was reportedly destroyed after a short
flying career.
In 1948 Nurtanio was posted to Manila in the
Philippines to continue his studies with the
first international Filipino airline, Far Eastern
Air Transport Inc. By 1950 the 26-year-old had
returned to Indonesia, where the AURI had
taken over the workshops of the hitherto Java-taken over the workshops of the hitherto Java-
based Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force based Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force based Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force
(RNEIAF), which was disbanded when (RNEIAF), which was disbanded when (RNEIAF), which was disbanded when
Indonesia gained full independence Indonesia gained full independence Indonesia gained full independence
during 1949–50. Accordingly, a during 1949–50. Accordingly, a during 1949–50. Accordingly, a
design bureau was established at design bureau was established at design bureau was established at
Bandung on Java as part of the Bandung on Java as part of the Bandung on Java as part of the
AURI, designated the AURI, designated the AURI Depot AURI Depot
Penjelidikan, Pertjobaan dan PembuatanPenjelidikan, Pertjobaan dan PembuatanPenjelidikan, Pertjobaan dan Pembuatan