PPG Aerospace—PRC DeSoto creates special paint scheme for Delta's 75th anniversary livery

Coatings World, Jan, 2005

PPG Aerospace -- PRC-DeSoto used out-of-the-paint-box thinking to create the vision for Delta Air Lines 75th anniversary livery on the Spirit of Delta Boeing 767-232. PPG Aerospace--PRC-DeSoto used special-effects pigment techniques from automotive refinish to recreate Delta's original DC-3 livery of 1940.

According to Jim Kennard, PPG senior account manager, Atlanta, PPG created the look of polished aluminum to resemble Delta's original livery while affording the application, appearance and performance benefits of a polyurethane base coat/clear coat system.

Kennard said PPG showed Delta coated panels with different percentages of nonmetallic flake before Delta selected the final look. The entire airframe was first painted with a gray polyurethane topcoat. After application of the stripes and letters, a special-effect nonmetallic pigment was dispersed into a clear topcoat to give the airplane a metallic appearance. Both the gray color coat and clearcoat were Desothane HS CA8800 topcoat, normally used on general aviation aircraft because it can be buffed after application, which is important for smaller airplanes that undergo body repairs. It gave the airplane a higher gloss and the additional durability needed to achieve the innovative nonmetallic metallic appearance.

PPG has been testing new pigment techniques for general aviation application, according to Paul Bowman, PPG Aerospace global business platform manager for coatings. "In general aviation, individual owners are interested in special colors and techniques to differentiate their airplanes," Bowman said. "We are finding our commercial aviation customers now are interested in specialty pigments, too."