PPG Industries’ aerospace transparencies group has been selected by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. to supply transparencies for the S-97 RAIDER helicopter, a next-generation rotorcraft being built for evaluation by the U.S. military. PPG will develop and manufacture pilot and copilot coated windshields, as well as side cockpit, lower observation and fuselage windows for the RAIDER helicopter at its Sylmar, Calif., facility. The transparencies will be plastic for strength and light weight. PPG has produced heated glass windshields for the BLACK HAWK helicopter and its variants since Sikorsky started the program in the 1970s, and also supplies transparencies for Sikorsky’s S-92(R) helicopter.
PPG Aerospace is among more than 35 U.S. companies announced as suppliers by Sikorsky earlier this year. Sikorsky and its team members are self-funding the design and manufacture of two S-97 RAIDER prototype aircraft for first flight in 2014. The program is in the early fabrication stage.
