PPG awarded heated windshield contract for Bell 525 Relentless helicopter

PPG has been awarded the contract by Bell Helicopter to produce heated pilot and co-pilot windshields for the Bell 525 Relentless commercial helicopter. The PPG windshields will be available for customer specification on helicopters operating in mountainous areas and cold environments and for off-shore rescues.
Bell has completed critical design review and approved PPG’s design for the composite windshields, which will have an outboard ply of stretched acrylic with a scratch-resistant coating and an inboard polycarbonate ply for enhanced strength. The windshields will meet Bell’s bird-strike requirement, which is to withstand the impact of a 2.2-pound bird at 185 knots.
The pilot and co-pilot windshields, which will have the same design, will measure approximately 50 inches by 60 inches. The front-facing area will be contoured to wrap to the side at around 100 degrees, affording exceptional viewing by both pilot and co-pilot.
PPG will fabricate the windshields at its Sylmar, California, plant with the PPG Aircon heating system supplied by its Huntsville, Alabama, facility.