LIPNUR Belalang
LIPNUR · Indonesia · first flew 1958 · light aircraft
The LIPNUR Belalang ("Grasshopper") was a military trainer built in small numbers in Indonesia in the late 1950s, essentially a Piper L-4J Grasshopper converted to a low wing.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Piper L-4J Grasshopper converted to a low wing braced by V lift struts
- Two-seat tandem trainer with a bubble canopy, the NU-90A having a sliding canopy
- Wing uses the USA-35B airfoil with the flaps removed and longer ailerons
Look for a Piper Cub-like tandem two-seater, but with a low wing braced by V struts to the top of the fuselage.
Specifications
- The LIPNUR Belalang has a length of 7.7 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.5 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 184 km/h (114 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Nurtanio Pringgoadisuryo modified an ageing ex-Dutch L-4J into a low-wing design with V lift struts and an 85 hp Continental C-85. The NU-85 prototype first flew on 17 April 1958 and the improved NU-90 was designed in 1959.
Variants
The NU-85 was the single prototype, the NU-90 had a 90 hp Continental C-90 and three pre-production aircraft were built, and the NU-90A had a 100 hp Continental O-200 and sliding canopy, with five built.
Where you'll see it
The Indonesian Air Force, Army and the civil aviation institute at Curug used it, and eight cadets soloed after training on the pre-production aircraft. An order for 50 could not be filled because LIPNUR lacked tooling.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.