PPG Aerospace Resumes Full Production Of Canopy Transparencies For F-16 Fighter

PARIS, June 15, 2009 – PPG Industries’ (NYSE:PPG) aerospace transparencies business has begun producing replacement canopy transparencies for F-16 fighter jets with a new-generation coating system and has resumed full production rates.

Paris Air Show visitors can see a canopy transparency with the new coating system for the F-16 jet at PPG Aerospace’s display at Hall 2B, Stand D57. The International Paris Air Show is June 15-21 at Le Bourget Exhibition Centre.

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Polycarbonate laminate canopy transparencies with the new coating system passed stringent requirements for bird impact, optical performance and environmental durability, according to Brent Wright, PPG Aerospace platform business manager for military transparencies.

“PPG expects the new S-406 inner and S-220 outer coatings will offer F-16 jet operators canopy transparencies with greater durability and affordability,” Wright said. The new system is available on PPG canopy transparencies in clear and reflective indium tin oxide (ITO) configurations, he said.

PPG Aerospace produces the forward and aft canopy transparencies for F-16 A/B/C/D configurations at its Sylmar, Calif., facility. The original YF-16 prototype performed its first flight in 1974 equipped with transparencies by Sierracin/Sylmar Corp., and the company has produced them since. PPG acquired Sierracin/Sylmar in 2006.

PPG Aerospace is the aerospace products and services business of PPG Industries.

Source: PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG)