New Coating System Provides Durability and Affordability

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.

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., USA, 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. PPG Aerospace – Transparencies is the world’s largest supplier of aircraft windshields, windows and canopies. PPG Aerospace – PRC-DeSoto is the leading global producer and distributor of aerospace coatings, sealants and packaging and application systems.

About PPG

Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, coatings, optical products, specialty materials, chemicals, glass and fiber glass. The company has more than 140 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates and operates in more than 60 countries. Sales in 2008 were $15.8 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

F-16 is a trademark of Lockheed Martin Corp.

NOTE TO EDITORS: This news release is part of the PPG Aerospace Paris Air Show press kit, which is available in its entirety at www.virtualpressoffice.com/kit/ppg.

PPG Aerospace
Audrey Fujimoto, 818-741-1685
audrey.fujimoto@ppg.com
or
JV Communications
Jean Verlich, 781-849-2028
jverlich@jvcommunications.com