Prof. DR (HC). Ing. Dr. Sc. Mult. Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie was born in Pare-Pare, South Sulawesi on June 25th, 1936. He was the fourth of eight children from his parents Alwi Abdul Jalil Habibie and RA. Tuti Marini Puspowardojo. Habibie married with Hasri Ainun Habibie on May 12th, 1962 and had two sons namely Ilham Akbar and Thareq Kemal. Habibie had studied in Governments Middlebare School. He started to have outstanding achievements at his high school especially in exact. After having graduation from his high school in Bandung in 1954, because of his intelligence he went into ITB (Institute Technology of Bandung). He did not finish his study because receiving a scholarship from The Ministry of Education and Culture to continue in Germany. He majored in Aerospace Engineering with Aircraft Construction specialization in Rhein Westfalen Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH).
He received Diploma Ing for his degree from Technische Hochschule Germany in 1960, and succeed with predicate Cumlaude (Perfect) for average score 9.5. Because of his degree, he enrolled himself working at Talbot Firm, a German railway industry. After that, he continued for doctoral degree at Technische Hochschule Fuer Die Facultaet Maschinenwesen Aachen. In 1965, Habibie achieved as Dr. Ingenieur with honored summa cumlaude (very perfect) for average score 10. “The Habibie Factor” that is the formula founded by Habibie on calculating propagation of cracks random deeply in the aircraft atoms. So that, he popularly called as “Mr. Crack”. In 1967, he became honorary professor at Institute Technology of Bandung. Genius and briliant thought leads Habibie to recognize him in international institution, such as Gesellschaft fuer Luft und Raumfahrt (Institute of Aeronautics and Space) Germany, The Royal Aeronautical Society, London (England), The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (Sweden), The Academie Nationale de l’Air et de l’Espace (France) and The US Academy of Engineering (USA). Moreover, Habibie received achievements on Edward Warner Award and von Karman Award which is almost equivalent to the Nobel Prize. In Indonesia, Habibie received the highest award from the Institute Technology of Bandung (ITB), Ganesh Bhakti Praja Manggala Kencana. Habibie had served as The Minister of Research and Technology / Chairman of BPPT in Indonesia for 20 years. Then lead 10 strategic Industries on State owned corporation. He was selected as The Vice President of Indonesia, and became the third President of Indonesia after taking the oath by the parliament.
Most of his success development is in calculating and designing aircraft manufacture project, those are:
• VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) Transport Aircraft DO-31.
• Military Transport Aircraft TRANSALL C-130.
• Hansa Jet 320 (Executive Aircraft)
• Airbus A-300 ( for 300 passengers)
• CN – 235
• N-250
He also indirectly participated for calculating and designing:
• helicopter BO-105.
• Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA)
• Some missile projects and satellites.
Several Honors of B.J Habibie are:
• 1976 – 1998 The Director of PT. Nusantara Aircraft Industry / IPTN.
• 1978 – 1998 The Minister of Research and Technology of Republic of Indonesia.
• The Chairman of the Assessment and Application Technology Corporation / BPPT
• 1978 – 1998 The Director of PT. PAL Indonesia (Persero)
• 1978 – 1998 The Chairman of Industry Development Authority Batam Island / Opdip Batam
• 1980 – 1998 The Chairman of Defense and Security Industry Development Team (Kepres no. 40, 1980)
• 1983 – 1998 The Director of PT Pindad (Persero).
• 1988 – 1998 The Vice Chairman of Board of Trustees of Strategic Industries
• 1989 – 1998 The Agency Chairman of Strategic Industries Management / BPIS.
• 1990 – 1998 The Chairman of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals Association / lCMI
• 1993 The Coordinator of Daily Presidium, Advisory Council of Golkar.
• March 10th – May 20th, 1998 The Vice President of Republic Indonesia
• May 21st, 1998 – October 1999 The President of Republic Indonesia.