PPG Aerospace designs glass windshields, side cockpit windows for Dassault Falcon 5X business jet

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama –– PPG Aerospace, a division of PPG Industries, has designed glass windshields and side cockpit windows for France's Dassault Falcon 5X business jet, which will cost $45 million and take its first flight in the first quarter of 2015.

PPG Aerospace has a contract with Dassault Aviation to provide both production and spare windshields and cockpit windows for the company, said Mark Hood, PPG global market director for general aviation transparencies.

"Dassault Aviation wanted curved glass transparencies having the lightest weight possible, and our unique bending and materials expertise enabled us to propose designs exceeding their expectations," he said.

PPG Aerospace designed the windshields and side cockpit windows with three piles of HERCULITE(R) II chemically-strengthened glass to be both lightweight and sturdy, while resisting the blow of a four-pound bird at 350 knots. The aircraft will also have SURFACE SEAL(R)-coated windshields and wipers to improve visibility.

Hood said PPG Aerospace has finished qualification testing for Safety of Flight and is preparing to start production of the windshields and windows at the Huntsville plant.

"This is the first Dassault airplane for which we will supply production cockpit windows, and we are pleased we will be able to join Dassault in creating a great new aircraft," said Arthur C. Scott, PPG global market director for commercial transparencies.

Send Lucy Berry an email at lberry@al.com.