Prof. Dr. Ing. H. Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie,FREng

(Lahir : 25 Juni 1936)

Prof. Dr.-Ing. H. Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, commonly known as B.J. Habibie, was the third President of the Republic of Indonesia and a world-renowned aerospace figure dubbed the “Father of Indonesian Technology.”

Here is the complete information regarding his life journey and contributions:

1. Brief Profile

Full Name: Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie
Born: June 25, 1936, Parepare, South Sulawesi
Died: September 11, 2019 (aged 83), Jakarta
Spouse: Hasri Ainun Besari (married 1962–2010)
Children: Ilham Akbar Habibie and Thareq Kemal Habibie

2. Education & Career in Germany

Habibie was known for his extraordinary intelligence, particularly in the exact sciences.

Education: After graduating from SMAK Dago (Bandung) and briefly attending ITB, he continued his studies at RWTH Aachen, Germany. He earned his Diploma Ing (1960) and his Doktor Ingenieur (1965) with Summa Cum Laude honors (a perfect grade point average of 10).
International Career: Before returning to Indonesia, he built a career at the German aviation company Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), eventually reaching the position of Vice President.

3. Technological Contributions & the “Mr. Crack” Nickname

Internationally, Habibie is highly respected for his revolutionary scientific discoveries:

Crack Progression Theory: Habibie discovered the formula to calculate the crack initiation point in aircraft structures caused by fatigue. This discovery made aircraft safer and reduced maintenance costs, earning him the nickname “Mr. Crack.”
IPTN & N-250 Gatotkaca: He founded Industri Pesawat Terbang Nurtanio (now PT Dirgantara Indonesia) and designed the N-250 Gatotkaca, the world’s first turboprop aircraft to utilize fly-by-wire technology.

4. Political Career & Presidency

Habibie was called home by President Suharto in 1974 to spearhead the nation’s industrial development.

Positions: He served as the Minister of Research and Technology (Menristek) for 20 years, before becoming the 7th Vice President of Indonesia.
Presidency (1998–1999): He became the 3rd President of Indonesia, succeeding Suharto during the peak of the Reformation movement. Despite his short tenure (17 months), he implemented several crucial policies:
- Established freedom of the press.
- Separated Bank Indonesia from the government to ensure its independence.
- Released political prisoners.
- Authorized the referendum for East Timor.

5. Love Story & Legacy

The story of the devoted love between Habibie and Ainun has inspired millions, eventually being adapted into books and major motion pictures (Habibie & Ainun). In his later years, he founded The Habibie Center, a foundation focused on promoting democracy and modernization in Indonesia.

Amir Maulana – SKYWORLD

Prof. Dr.-Ing. H. Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, yang lebih dikenal sebagai B.J. Habibie, adalah presiden ketiga Republik Indonesia dan tokoh dirgantara dunia yang dijuluki sebagai “Bapak Teknologi Indonesia”.

Berikut adalah informasi lengkap mengenai riwayat hidup dan kontribusi beliau:

1. Profil Singkat

Nama Lengkap: Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie
Lahir: 25 Juni 1936, Parepare, Sulawesi Selatan
Wafat: 11 September 2019 (usia 83 tahun), Jakarta
Istri: Hasri Ainun Besari (menikah 1962–2010)
Anak: Ilham Akbar Habibie dan Thareq Kemal Habibie

2. Riwayat Pendidikan & Karier di Jerman

Habibie dikenal karena kecerdasannya yang luar biasa, terutama di bidang eksakta.

Pendidikan: Setelah tamat dari SMAK Dago (Bandung) dan sempat kuliah di ITB, ia melanjutkan studi ke RWTH Aachen, Jerman. Ia meraih gelar Diploma Ing (1960) dan gelar Doktor Ingenieur (1965) dengan predikat Summa Cum Laude (nilai rata-rata 10).
Karier Internasional: Sebelum kembali ke Indonesia, ia berkarier di perusahaan penerbangan Jerman, Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), hingga mencapai posisi Vice President.

3. Kontribusi Teknologi & Julukan “Mr. Crack”

Di dunia internasional, Habibie sangat dihormati karena penemuan ilmiahnya yang revolusioner:

Teori Crack (Crack Progression): Habibie menemukan rumus untuk menghitung titik retak pada struktur pesawat terbang akibat kelelahan (fatigue). Penemuan ini membuat pesawat lebih aman dan biaya pemeliharaan lebih murah, sehingga ia dijuluki “Mr. Crack”.
IPTN & N-250 Gatotkaca: Ia mendirikan Industri Pesawat Terbang Nurtanio (sekarang PT Dirgantara Indonesia) dan merancang N-250 Gatotkaca, pesawat turboprop pertama di dunia yang menggunakan teknologi fly-by-wire.

4. Karier Politik & Kepresidenan

Habibie dipanggil pulang oleh Presiden Soeharto pada tahun 1974 untuk membangun industri nasional.

Jabatan: Menteri Riset dan Teknologi (Menristek) selama 20 tahun, kemudian menjadi Wakil Presiden RI ke-7.
Masa Kepresidenan (1998–1999): Ia menjadi Presiden RI ke-3 menggantikan Soeharto di tengah gejolak reformasi. Meski singkat (17 bulan), ia membuat kebijakan krusial:
- Memberikan kebebasan pers.
- Memisahkan Bank Indonesia dari pemerintah agar independen.
- Melepaskan tahanan politik.
- Melaksanakan jajak pendapat (referendum) untuk Timor Timur.

5. Kisah Cinta & Warisan

Kisah cinta setia antara Habibie dan Ainun telah menjadi inspirasi banyak orang, bahkan diangkat ke dalam buku dan film layar lebar (Habibie & Ainun). Di masa tuanya, ia mendirikan The Habibie Center, sebuah yayasan yang fokus memajukan demokrasi dan modernisasi di Indonesia.