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AkzoNobel marks 50th Anniversary of Iconic Alumigrip Brand with Debut of Berlin Express and AirCam Planes at EAA AirVenture 2018

July 20, 2018

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AkzoNobel donated the paint to restore the historic Berlin Express and build the AirCam

After months of meticulous work, two very special planes will make their debut at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) AirVenture 2018 in Wisconsin next week: the historic Berlin Express 410V, a North American B-25H Mitchell war plane that has been completely rebuilt, and a Lockwood AirCam, built from scratch for the EAA’s Young Eagles program. AkzoNobel – a leading global paints and coatings company – is a proud supporter of these two plane projects and donated the paint for them.

“This year, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of our iconic Alumigrip brand, and what better way to mark this milestone than to support the projects for the Berlin Express and the AirCam,” says John Griffin, AkzoNobel’s Segment Director for Aerospace Coatings and Film. “At AkzoNobel, we have a passion for paint. To see the historic Berlin Express restored back to beauty is inspiring and the perfect way to show what we can accomplish with paint.”

What is Alumigrip?

AkzoNobel’s Alumigrip coating system brand is well-known in the General Aviation market for its unrivalled high-gloss finish and ease of use. The new Alumigrip base coat/clear coat system drastically reduces down time for customers, without compromising the result.

In celebration of Alumigrip’s 50th anniversary this year, AkzoNobel partnered up with the EAA for the AirVenture show. AirVenture takes place from July 23 – 29, 2018, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Griffin adds, “Alumigrip was a natural choice for the two plane projects. For the Berlin Express, we wanted to help preserve its historic status, so we chose a traditional military topcoat. The AirCam will ignite passion for flying among the Young Eagles, and what better way to do that than with a slick-looking plane.”

Making of the Planes: 10 Fast Facts

Berlin Express

The Berlin Express flew in World War II and helped provide a boost of confidence to the Allied Forces. In addition, this plane played a big part in the 1970 classic war film “Catch 22,” including as the general’s airplane.
The restoration project returned the Berlin Express to its original paint scheme, with AkzoNobel’s military (58-Series) topcoat.
Special feature – old meets new: While there is traditional coating on the outside, AkzoNobel’s newest technology is protecting the Berlin Express. Underneath the traditional military paint is the Aerodur 2111 chrome-free primer to protect the airframe from corrosion. AkzoNobel leads the market in this area! The topcoat is polyurethane from the 58 Series, which protects military aircraft in the harsh environments in which they perform.
Berlin Express paint tally: Metaflex SP1050 Pretreatment, 4 gallons of Aerodur 2111 CF Primer, 14 gallons of Cloud Grey, 6 gallons of Olive Green, 14 gallons of Desert Tan, 1 gallon of Black, 1 gallon of Insignia Blue, 2 gallons of Insignia White, 1 gallon of Yellow.
While the Berlin Express won’t fly yet during the AirVenture 2018 event, organizers hope it will be up in the air by mid-2019.

AirCam

The AirCam was painted in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Young Eagles, an EAA program that inspires new generations of aviation enthusiasts by giving youth ages 8–17 their first free ride in a plane.
This open-cockpit, tandem-seat beauty will fly the Eagles out of the EAA’s Pioneer Airport and support EAA photo missions during the week of AirVenture 2018.
The AirCam is covered in AkzoNobel’s Alumigrip and will feature the 50th Anniversary logo of the brand on the aircraft.
The paint scheme is yellow and blue, so this true General Aviation aircraft represents the spirit of the Alumigrip brand.
AirCam paint tally: 1 gallon of Matterhorn White, 1 gallon of Navy Blue, 2 gallons of Morning Sun.