After 52 Years Since its Inaugural Flight, C-212 Aviocar Remains in Production; Indonesia Receives Inaugural NC-212i Fitted with 5-Blade Propellers

 

Despite its maiden flight dating back to 1971, the Aviocar, designed and developed by the Spanish company CASA in the 1970s, continues to be manufactured in Indonesia, where new versions and developments persistently emerge.

The Indonesian Air Force recently took delivery of the first NC212i transport aircraft equipped with new five-bladed MT-Propeller rotors. This marks the fifth unit out of a total of nine aircraft commissioned by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense from the local company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI).

Bearing the serial number AX-2127, the inaugural flight of this aircraft took off from PTDI's Hangar Delivery Center in the city of Bandung, Western Indonesia, and headed to the Abdulrachman Saleh Air Base in Malang, Eastern Indonesia. Upon its successful landing, the NC212i joined the Indonesian Air Squadron 4.

Indonesian public officials highlighted that the NC212i aircraft signifies both a clear display of engineering and production efforts by the local company PTDI and a highly significant milestone in terms of Indonesia's local manufacturing for defense. Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto emphasized that the government's commitment to modernize the country's defense equipment is ongoing, with the NC212i representing just one phase in this process.

This new NC212i transport aircraft is part of a contract encompassing the acquisition of nine aircraft for the Indonesian Air Force. Four are allocated for troop transport, another four for climate modification operations, and the remaining unit for navigation training.