PPG Donates Coatings and Sealants to Help Restore Douglas C-54 Skymaster Aircraft

PPG announced that it provided coatings and sealant materials to support the restoration of a 74-year-old four-engine transport aircraft with serial number 56498 — a Douglas C-54 Skymaster. Built in 1945, the aircraft was used by the U.S. Army Air Forces as a cargo workhorse to transport medical supplies, troops and military equipment during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It was retired from military service in 1973 and flew as a sprayer from 1975 to 1985. [caption id="attachment_123201" align="aligncenter"] Photo: Business Wire[/caption] After completing its initial restoration in 2002, the aircraft flew to the United Kingdom to be featured in a film related to the Berlin Airlift. The film was cancelled and the C-54 Skymaster was placed on display at North Weald Airfield in Essex. Allan Vogel, President of the Save the Skymaster community and Aircraft Broker, took it upon himself in 2017 to rescue the aircraft frame from becoming scrap. Vogel said, "This particular Douglas C-54 Skymaster has quite a remarkable history and is currently the only aircraft of its kind in the United Kingdom. We knew that the sponsors of this restoration, the volunteers and high-quality aviation products would be necessary to bring the C-54 back to life. We are grateful to PPG for their support and contributions." PPG provided PPG P/S 870® Class B corrosion inhibiting sealant, PPG PR-1440® Class A fuel tank sealant and PPG PR-1005® L Buna-N Slosh coating to restore the C-54 Skymaster's integrated fuel tanks, as well as various coatings and sealant materials for the aircraft's interior and exterior structures.

David Best, Sales Manager for Aerospace and Defense at the Shildon application support center, said, "As PPG, we are grateful to be able to contribute our aerospace expertise and resources to organizations dedicated to preserving important chapters in aviation history. Save the Skymaster is committed to providing hands-on learning opportunities through its restoration project, helping veterans and new engineering graduates gain real-world experience."

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many engineering graduates were unable to complete their internships. Save the Skymaster is stepping in to help provide practical on-the-job training and is connecting with various universities. Vogel added, "Throughout history, the C-54 Skymaster has been synonymous with bringing aid and comfort to others when they needed it. We wanted to continue this legacy. Together with recent graduates, we are offering all veterans the opportunity to work alongside our valued engineers. In doing so, they are becoming better equipped to re-enter the workforce." According to the current project timeline, Vogel believes the C-54 Skymaster will be airworthy within 18 to 24 months. PPG's global aerospace business unit provides coatings, sealants, adhesives, transparencies, packaging and application systems, and transparent armor, as well as chemical management and other services.