TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's presidential aircraft, A-001, has recently undergone a visual transformation. The aircraft now features a white livery accented by a long red stripe. This refreshed design and color scheme garnered attention during President Prabowo's visit to Brunei Darussalam on May 16, 2025, when the aircraft was seen parked alongside the PK-GRD presidential aircraft at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta.
The presidential aircraft has, in fact, seen numerous changes throughout Indonesia's history, even dating back to the leadership of its first president, Sukarno. Here is a journey through the transformation of Indonesia's presidential aircraft from its early days to the present.
1. President Sukarno
According to information from Indonesia.go.id, the presidential aircraft used by Indonesia's first President, Sukarno, was a DC-3 Dakota named "Seulawah," which translates to "golden mountain" in Acehnese. In addition to this, Sukarno also received a presidential aircraft as a gift from the Soviet Union. In the late 1950s, the Soviet Union presented him with an Ilyushin Il-18 aircraft for presidential use.
2. President Soeharto
During President Soeharto's tenure, the presidential aircraft was less frequently highlighted. Soeharto typically utilized a DC-9 aircraft for domestic flights and a DC-8 for international travel. Both aircraft, used for Soeharto's mobility, were operated by Garuda Indonesia.
3. President Megawati Soekarnoputri
President Megawati did not have a dedicated aircraft specifically designated as the "presidential aircraft." However, she was known to use several aircraft for her official duties, including the MD-11, Boeing 737-500, or Airbus A330-300.
4. President B.J. Habibie and Abdurrahman Wahid
Neither President B.J. Habibie nor President Abdurrahman Wahid had a specific presidential aircraft during their terms. Both presidents generally used aircraft belonging to Garuda Indonesia, Pelita Air Service, or the Indonesian Air Force for their state duties.
5. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)
President SBY utilized a Boeing 737-400 as the presidential aircraft. Its appearance was predominantly blue and white, with an added red line encircling the aircraft, symbolizing the colors of the Indonesian flag. The national emblem of Garuda Pancasila was prominently displayed near the nose of the aircraft.
6. President Joko Widodo
The design of President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's presidential aircraft marked a more significant departure from the SBY era. The presidential aircraft, originally blue, was transformed into a white A-001 with a striking red accent on the nose that tapered towards the tail.
The national emblem of Garuda Pancasila on Jokowi's aircraft was located on the nose. On the side of the aircraft, the words "Republik Indonesia" in white letters stood out against a red background.
7. President Prabowo
The presidential aircraft used by Prabowo Subianto, A-001, features a pattern similar to PK-GRD. It is primarily white across the body with a long red line accent both above and below the windows. The upper accent line is thicker than the lower one. Meanwhile, the words "Republik Indonesia" are now in black with a different font from the previous design.
Dian Rahma Fika, Rizki Dewi Ayu, and Yolanda Agne contributed to writing this article.
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