First Aircraft State of Indonesia ; Dakota RI 001 Seulawah..

Dakota RI-001 Seulawah aircraft, as the name suggests. The replica of the plane is now immortalized in Blang Padang field, Banda Aceh. This aircraft is the embryo of the establishment of the first commercial airline, Indonesian Airways which is now better known as Garuda Indonesia. This aircraft is a very big service in the initial struggle of the formation of the state of Indonesia.

The general public calls this monument RI 001 Seulawah. This monument is the first building that stands on the vast land of Blangpadang, before finally building another monument in the same place. A closer look at the monument RI 001 Seulawah, as if invited to see how the patriotism of the people of Aceh to fill the independence.

The aircraft was purchased from the donation of the people of Aceh at the request of Sukarno who came specifically to Aceh, mid-June 1948. In his meeting with Military Governor Abu Daud Beureueh at Hotel Aceh, beside Baiturrahman Great Mosque, Banda Aceh, the first President of Indonesia cried, Help fund the purchase of aircraft.

The aim was to strengthen the country's defense and inter-island relations, through the Dutch blockade that began dominating much of the archipelago after the second Dutch military aggression. The Indonesian central government in Yogjakarta itself was then dominated by the Dutch.

The presence of Dakota RI-001 Seulawah encourages the opening of the Java-Sumatra flight route, even abroad. In early December 1948, the Dakota RI-001 Seulawah aircraft departed from Maguwo-Kutaraja Airport and on December 6, 1948 left for Calcutta, India. The aircraft was manned by Captain Pilot J. Maupin, OU III Sutardjo Sigit Kopilot, Adisumarmo radio translator, and Caesselberry machine engineer. Travel to Calcutta is doing routine maintenance.

Soekarno gathered wealthy merchants and Acehnese people to work together to contribute to the purchase of airplanes. But unfortunately now Hotel Aceh is no longer being tracked. The big fire destroys this historic hotel. Just leave the stairs covered with grass.

Now located adjacent to the Great Mosque of Baiturrahman, only found colorful piles. Initially these piles were prepared to build Novotel Hotel Aceh, but over time construction project stalled.

To commemorate the service of the people of Aceh through the pleasure of this aircraft in helping to realize Indonesia, built a replica of Dakota RI-001 Seulawah monument in Blang Padang Square. The inauguration of this monument with the signing of an inscription on 29 July 1984 by Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Sukardi and Hadi Tajeb, Governor of Aceh at that time.

Well, in addition to seeing the Dakota RI-001 Seulawah aircraft located in Blang Padang Square, do not forget to visit other historical places in Banda Aceh City adjacent to Blang Padang Square, such as Kerkhof Peutjut, and Aceh Tsunami Museum...