LE BOURGET AIRPORT, France, June 18, 2013 – PPG Industries’ (NYSE:PPG) aerospace business donated the latest-technology DESOTHANE(R) HD basecoat/clearcoat for repainting the first Dassault Mystere 20 production aircraft, which was restored for the 50th anniversary celebration of its first flight.
The restored Mystere 20 business jet with serial number 1 will be on display on Le Bourget Airport’s tarmac, in front of the Advanced Air Support facility, through June 23, after which it returns to France’s air and space museum, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, at Le Bourget Airport for permanent display.
According to Gilles Brosseau, PPG sales manager, South Europe, maintenance, repair and overhaul, and Hervé Matthys, PPG sales manager, South Europe, original-equipment manufacturers, PPG provided Desothane HD/CA 9008 basecoat/clearcoat because of its aesthetic, application, performance and environmental benefits.
“For the best business jet of its age, PPG Aerospace offered its best technology of today with brand-new Desothane HD/CA 9008 basecoat/clearcoat,” Brosseau said. “The painters applied it on a very tight schedule and said they especially appreciated the short cycle time allowed by this scheme, with an astounding appearance and gloss for both solid and metallic colors. We wanted the Myst?re 20 to look good today and for years to come.”
The aircraft was painted white, red, blue and black with silver metallic wings and belly to recreate the flight-test livery, then clear-coated for enhanced durability and increased color and gloss retention.
STTS Group, Europe’s largest specialist aerospace painting and sealing company, repainted the Myst?re 20 jet at its Le Bourget facility after restoration by IT Mercure, a nonprofit aircraft restoration association. PPG’s technical service team in Gonfreville, France, worked with Dassault, STTS and IT Mercure.
PPG has assisted IT Mercure and Dassault on other aircraft restorations, including a Mercure regional jet and several fighter aircraft such as a Mirage 4000, Mirage III and Myst?re II, Matthys said, adding that PPG was glad to be part of this team that benefitted from the professional painting expertise of STTS.
High-solids, chromate-free Desothane HD/CA 9008 basecoat/clearcoat consists of a heavily pigmented basecoat that provides color in one coat, instead of the typical two or three coats, saving material and application time. The clearcoat provides extended service life, improved buffability and a smoother surface that is easier to clean.
Brosseau said that Desothane HD/CA 9008 basecoat/clearcoat also can be used as part of a completely chromate-free exterior system qualified to SAE International’s Aerospace Material Specification 3095A.
For the Mystere 20 repainting, though, at Dassault’s request, he said PPG supplied DesoGel EAP-12 pretreatment and DESOPRIME(R) CF/CA 7049 primer for an alternative complete chromate-free system.
Dassault said the Mystere 20 was renamed the Fan Jet Falcon 20 at the request of its first customer, Pan American World Airways, and helped usher in a new generation of business jets leading to today’s Falcon business jet line.
PPG Aerospace is the aerospace products and services business of PPG Industries. PPG Aerospace – PRC-DeSoto is the leading global producer of aerospace sealants, coatings, and packaging and application systems. PPG Aerospace – Transparencies is the world’s largest supplier of aircraft windshields, windows and canopies.
About Dassault Falcon
Dassault Falcon is responsible for selling and supporting Falcon business jets throughout the world. It is part of Dassault Aviation, a leading aerospace company with a presence in over 70 countries across five continents. Dassault Aviation produces the Rafale fighter jet as well as the complete line of Falcon business jets. The company has assembly and production plants in both France and the United States and service facilities on multiple continents. It employs a total workforce of over 12,000. Since the rollout of the first Falcon 20 in 1963, over 2,250 Falcon jets have been delivered to 81 countries worldwide. The family of Falcon jets currently in production includes the tri-jets – the Falcon 900LX, and the 7X – as well as the twin-engine 2000LXS, 2000LX and Falcon 2000S. For more information, visit www.dassaultfalcon.com.
About STTS Group
STTS is the largest specialist aerospace painting and sealing company in Europe. The company was founded in Toulouse, France, in 1986, and today operates 35 industrial sites in six countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.stts-group.com.
About IT Mercure
IT Mercure is a nonprofit association established in 1995 to maintain the last Mercure jet, a single-aisle regional jet developed and manufactured by Dassault, which was given to the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace at Le Bourget Airport by the former Air Inter. Based at Le Bourget, IT Mercure restores old aircraft for display. Many of its members are former aerospace workers, mainly from Dassault and Air Inter companies. For more information, visit it.mercure.free.fr.
PPG: BRINGING INNOVATION TO THE SURFACE.(TM)
PPG Industries’ vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in nearly 70 countries around the world. Sales in 2012 were $15.2 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.
