Today I will tell you about the history of the first aircraft of the Republic of Indonesia. The plane purchased by the people of Aceh at the request of President Soekarno.
On June 16, 1948, after the military defile and the Samoedra Esplanade Koetardja Meeting in Blangpadang Square, Banda Aceh City, President Soekarno and his entourage were served lunch by Acehnese merchants from the Aceh Regional Indonesian Merchants Association (Gasida) in the Atjeh Hotel Hall.
Replica of the Dakota Seulawah RI 001 aircraft in Blang Padang, Banda Aceh [foto: private doc]
Before the banquet, President Soekarno delivered a short speech in front of Acehnese merchants and officials. Soekarno asked the Acehnese merchants to buy an airplane, to facilitate the diplomacy of the newly independent Republic of Indonesia from the Dutch colony.
President Soekarno's request received a unanimous response from the Acehnese merchants, who stated that they agreed to buy two Dakota airplanes. Furthermore, President Soekarno gave an agreement to community leaders and merchants who were present to fly on a chartered plane that took him to Aceh.
Replica of the Dakota Seulawah RI 001 aircraft in Blang Padang, Banda Aceh [foto: private doc]
History recorded that the Acehnese merchants together with the Acehnese people managed to raise funds for the purchase of two Dakota airplanes. The funds were collected through the Dakota Fond which was formed in all regions in Aceh.
The people of Aceh voluntarily donate their wealth to buy two airplanes for the Republic of Indonesia, they hand over cash and jewelry to representatives of Dakota Fond in every area in Aceh.
Replica of the Dakota Seulawah RI 001 aircraft in Blang Padang, Banda Aceh [foto: private doc]
In accordance with President Soekarno's promise, the Acehnese were given the right to name the purchased aircraft. So the two Dakota planes were named Seulawah RI 001 and Seulawah RI 002. The name Seulawah is taken from the name of a mountain in Aceh Besar.
The Seulawah RI 001 aircraft donated by the people of Aceh is a Douglas C-47B, which at the time of the second military action was used by Air Commodore Wiweko as the capital to establish Indonesia Airways as the forerunner of the Garuda Indonesia airline.
Replica of the Dakota Seulawah RI 001 aircraft in Blang Padang, Banda Aceh [foto: private doc]
