Banda Aceh, Dakota RI001 Seulawah is a transport aircraft which is the first aircraft belonging to the Republic of Indonesia. The Dakota type aircraft with the RI-001 wing number which was given the name Seulawah, it was purchased from donations of the Acehnese people.
Dakota RI-001 seulawah aircraft is the forerunner to the establishment of the first commercial airline company, Indonesian Airways. This aircraft was very large in its initial struggle for the formation of the Indonesian state.
Along with the development of technology, especially in the field of aerospace, several types of older generation aircraft were declared to have ended their operations. One of them is the type of Dakota.
However, due to his services which are considered great for the forerunner of the establishment of a commercial airline in the country, the Air Force initiated the establishment of a monument to struggle the Dakota RI-001 Seulawah aircraft in Banda Aceh.
On July 30, 1984, Commander of ABRI General L.B. Moerdani also inaugurated a monument located in Lapangan Blang Padang, Banda Aceh. The original aircraft is stored in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah.
This monument is a symbol of huge contribution of the people of Aceh for the struggle of Indonesia at its inception.
Meanwhile, every Sunday morning there are many social communities do their social activities in Blang Padang, Banda Aceh.
One of them is Kelas Gambar RI-001, it is an art class which is held by artists of Koetaraja. It is named Kelas Gambar RI-001 because the activities are done under the aircraft monument wings at 08.30 am to 11.00 am.
The class is opened for everyone who want to learn the visual art, such as drawing, painting, sketching and lettering. Also, the most interested of the class is free of cost for students.
The class is mentored by some expert artists, one of them is Iswadi Basri, a professional painter in Aceh. "It is the way how we construct the people, especially children in maintaining culture and learning histories through the art" Iswadi said.
Beside, Iswadi stated that the class was made to educate and share the knowledge to the society of Banda Aceh, and a dedication of artists of Koetaraja.