Wright-Martin
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation, Aircraft manufacturing, Aircraft engines |
| Predecessor | Wright Company, Glenn L. Martin Company (initial) |
| Founded | September 1916 |
| Defunct | 1919 |
| Fate | Rebranded as Wright Aeronautical; dissolution after Martin's departure |
| Headquarters | Long Island City , United States |
Key people | Henry M. Crane (engineer), Glenn L. Martin (founder), Orville Wright (former Wright Company) |
| Products | Aircraft, Aircraft engines (licensed Hispano-Suiza 8 variant) |
Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation was a short-lived aviation manufacturing enterprise created in September 1916 through the union of the Wright Company (following Orville Wright's departure) and the initial company founded by Glenn L. Martin.
History
This consolidation brought together the Wright Company and Glenn L. Martin's original firm. The new company persisted in the Wright brothers patent war against competing producers until 1917, when the U.S. government's intervention led to a cross-licensing arrangement under the Manufacturers Aircraft Association, a move driven by America's involvement in World War I. Martin stepped down in 1917, leading to the dissolution of Wright-Martin within approximately one year.
Led by engineer Henry M. Crane, Wright-Martin manufactured a licensed variant of the Hispano-Suiza 8 engine, which powered aircraft including the Vought VE-7, Vought VE-8, Boeing NB-2, and Loening M-8. By 1918, the company operated a manufacturing facility located in Long Island City, New York. In 1919, it rebranded as Wright Aeronautical, redirecting its emphasis from building aircraft to producing engines, most notably advancing the prominent Wright Whirlwind engine series.
Separately, in September 1917, Glenn L. Martin established his second aviation company under his name, which evolved into a significant aircraft producer throughout the mid-1900s before diversifying into rocket and spacecraft development. This entity merged with American-Marietta Corporation in 1961 to form the industrial conglomerate Martin Marietta, which subsequently combined with Lockheed Corporation in 1995 to establish today's aerospace leader Lockheed Martin, recognized as one of the top three major American aircraft manufacturers alongside Boeing and Northrop Grumman.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright-Martin Model R | 14 | Single-engine biplane designed for reconnaissance missions | |
| Wright-Martin Model V | 1 | Single-engine biplane used for reconnaissance purposes |
External links
- World War I promotional material for Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation – FIGHT or Join the Industrial Aircraft Service, Popular Science, December 1918, page 91.
- Articles with short description
- Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United States
- Wright brothers
- Defunct aircraft engine manufacturers of the United States
- American companies established in 1916
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1916
- Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1919
- American companies disestablished in 1919