PPG Coatings Systems Selected by Airbus for A350-1000 Launch Aircraft
TOULOUSE, France – One of three Airbus A350-1000 flight-test aircraft has been painted in the Airbus livery with a selectively strippable system by PPG that shortens repaint cycle time using DESOTHANE® HD 9008 basecoat-clearcoat for high-intensity, long-lasting color. A PPG low-density fuel tank and fuselage sealant provides the three flight-test aircraft with weight savings compared with traditional sealants and will be used on production A350-1000 airplanes to benefit operators.
For the selectively strippable system, chrome-free DESOPRIME™ HS 7049 primer by PPG was applied over the existing base primer and F565 intermediate coating added over it, and then the aircraft was painted with Desothane color basecoat and clearcoat. When it is time for repainting, only the intermediate coating, basecoat and clearcoat will need to be removed for new applications, leaving Desoprime primer and the underlying base primer intact, reducing aircraft downtime by about 30 to 40 percent.