Inilah Deretan Sejarah Pesawat TNI AU Yang Perkuat Indonesia, Yang Tidak Diketaui Banyak Orang

Sejak berdiri pada 9 April 1946, TNI AU telah mengoperasionalka beragam jenis pesawat dari berbagai negara dengan madzhab yang berbeda-beda.

Inilah Deretan Sejarah Pesawat TNI AU Yang Perkuat Indonesia, Yang Tidak Diketaui Banyak Orang

Pada awal kemerdekaan Indonesia, TNI AU mewarisi pesawat tempur buatan Jepang seperti, Churen, Ki-27 Nate (Nishikoreng), K-51 Guntei dan Nakajima Ki-43-II.

Diantara yang populer adalah Yokosuka K5Y ‘Willow’ atau yang dikenal dengan pesawat Churen. Ini adalah pesawat latih tempur yang menelurkan banyak pilot pilot handal di awal pembentukan TNI AU.

Pesawat ini adalah rampasan dari Kaigun, Angkatan Laut Kekaisaran Jepang, pada perang dunia II. Churen memiliki sayap ganda (biplane) dengan kursi ganda dengan mesin tunggal Hitachi Amakaze 11, 9-silinder berpendingin udara (224 KW/300DK).

Pada 27 Oktober 1945, Churen diresmikan sebagai pesawat pertama TNI AU.  Pesawat tersebut dilabur cat warna merah dan putih sebagai identitas dan lambang Republik Indonesia di udara. Penerbang pertama Churen adalah Komodor Udara Agustunis Adisudjipto.

Pada 29 Juli 1947, Tentara Keamanan Rakyat Jawatan Penerbangan (sekarang TNI AU) melakukan operasi udara untuk pertama kalinya sebagai balasan atas terjadinya peristiwa agresi militer Belanda I dan menorehkan kesuksesan sempurna.

Kala itu, para penerbang TNI AU menggunakan pesawat-pesawat Churen, Guntei dan Hayabusha dari Lapangan Terbang Maguwo, Jogjakarta, untuk melakukan misi pemboman strategis terhadap pasukan Belanda yang berlokasi di Ambarawa, Salatiga dan Semarang.

Memasuki dekade 1950an, pesawat-pesawat peninggalan jepang itu akhirnya mengalami pergantian setelah dilakukannya pengembangan dan konsolidasi oleh TNI AU. Di era ini, pesawat-pesawat yang lebih modern dari berbagai jenis datang untuk memperkuat TNI AU. 

Di antaranya, pesawat buru sergap P-51 Mustang, pesawat pembom B-25 Mitchell dan Douglas B-26 Invader, pesawat latih dasar Vultee BT-13 Valiant dan L-4J Piper Cub, serta pesawat latih lanjut AT-16 Harvard.

Pada masa itu esawat-pesawat lain yang hadir adalah pesawat angkut ringan Cessna 180, Auster Mark-II dan AT-6G Harvard, serta Cessna L-19 (O-1 Bird Dog). Ada pula, amfibi PBY-5A Catalina dan UF-1 Albatross dan untuk generasi pesawat jet hadir pula DH-115 Vampire, MiG 15, MiG 17 dan pesawat pembom Ilyushin Il-28.

Selain pesawat, dari jenis helikopter terdapat Hiller-360 Utility yang menjadi helikopter kepresidenan perdana sang proklamator, Bell 47G-3B-1 Soloy yang menjadi generasi awal helikopter TNI AU, Bell 47G2, Mil Mi-4 dan SM-1. Sedangkan dari jenis pesawat angkut hadir pesawat sedang Ilyushin Il-14 Avia dan angkut ringan C-47 Dakota.

Pada 1960-an, TNI AU menjadi entitas yang cukup disegani di kawasan Asia Tenggara dengan hadirnya berbagai pesawat yang lebih modern, baik buatan Blok Timur maupun Blok Barat. Dari Blok Timur yakni pesawat jet MiG-19 dan MiG-21, pesawat angkut berat Antonov An-12 Cub, pesawat pembom strategis Tupolev Tu-16 Badger; serta helikopter Mil Mi-4, Mil Mi-6 dan L-29 Delfin.

Dari Blok Barat TNI AU diperkuat dengan hadirnya pesawat latih Beechcraft T-34 Mentor, pesawat angkut berat C-130 Hercules, pesawat angkut ringan VIP/VVIP C-140 Jetstar yang pernah digunakan Bung Karno sebegai pesawat kepresidenan. Sedangkan untuk jenis helikopter terdapat Bell 47J Ranger, Bell 204B Iroquis dan S-58T Sikorsky.

10 tahun kemudian, tepatnya 1970an, TNI kembali diperkuat dengan pesawat-pesawat yang cukup disegani di dunia. Di antaranya pesawat OV-10 Bronco buatan North American Rockwell yang pernah menjadi tulang punggung TNI AU, pesawat tempur F-86 Avon Sabre, pesawat Angkut Fokker F27, serta pesawat latih Lockheed T-33 Bird, AT-16 Harvard dan Beechcraft T-34 Mentor. Di era ini juga, TNI AU kedatangan helikopter Puma SA-330, helikopter latih Bell 47-G Sioux dan Bell 204B Iroquis.

Saat memasuki 1980an, TNI AU kembali mengakuisis pesawat-pesawat yang semakin modern. Sebut saja jet tempur kawakan F-5 Tiger II, yang kini tengah menanti penggantinya. Ada juga jet tempur legendaris McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawak, pesawat jet tempur latih BE Systems Hawk MK-53, pesawat Boeing 737-200 Surveillance dan pesawat angkut ringan Cassa 212-200 Aviocar.

Pada akhir dekade ini, pesawat jet tempur multiperan F-16 Fighting Falcon yang menjadi salah satu kekuatan andalan TNI AU hingga saat ini. Di samping itu, untuk membentuk penerbang-penerbang muda yang andal, TNI AU mengakuisisi pesawat latih mula AS-220 Bravo.

Di era 1990an, pesawat CN-235 dan helikopter NAS-332 Super Puma hadir memperkuat TNI AU. Memasuki 2000an, hadir helikopter latih EC-120 Colibri besutan Airbus Helicopters pada tahun 2001 yang juga menjadi helikopter andalan Dynamic Pegasus, untuk memperganas TNI AU.

Dua tahun berselang, pesawat latih dasar KT-1B Woong Bee buatan Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) pada tahun 2003 yang kini menjadi pesawat andalan Jupiter Aerobatic Team (JAT), juga hadir.

RiauOnline

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