Wright Aeronautical
| Industry | Aerospace, Aircraft manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Founder | Wright brothers (original company) |
| Defunct | 1929 |
| Fate | Merged with Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company to form Curtiss-Wright Corporation |
| Successor | Curtiss-Wright Corporation |
| Headquarters | Paterson , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Charles Lawrance (vice president, later president), Frederick B. Rentschler (former president) |
| Products | Airplanes, Aircraft engines |
Number of employees | 24,000 (during WWII at Paterson plant) (World War II period) |
Wright Aeronautical operated as an American aircraft manufacturer from 1919 until 1929, with its main offices located in Paterson, New Jersey. It emerged as the successor to Wright-Martin, producing both airplanes and aircraft engines during the peak era of aviation. Wright engines were the power behind renowned pilots such as Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh. In 1929, Wright Aeronautical combined forces with Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, resulting in the creation of Curtiss-Wright.
History
The original company founded by the Wright brothers merged with Glenn L. Martin’s enterprise in 1916, forming the Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation. However, Martin departed in 1917 to restart his own business. After World War I, in 1919, the corporation was rebranded as Wright Aeronautical and shifted its operations to Paterson, New Jersey.
In early 1919, a plane equipped with a Wright engine established a new world speed record exceeding 163 mph. Wright engines achieved leading positions in the early Pulitzer Trophy Races of 1920 and 1921, and contributed to technological advancements such as an engine design enabling cannon fire through propellers. By 1921, Wright had engineered a six-cylinder 400-horsepower engine for dirigibles, and in 1922, their H-2 engine secured victory at the Mitchell Trophy Race.
In May 1923, Wright expanded by acquiring the Lawrance Aero Engine Company, obtaining Charles Lawrance’s J-1 radial engine and appointing him as vice president. In 1925, company president Frederick B. Rentschler left to establish Pratt & Whitney, taking key staff members with him; Lawrance then assumed the presidency. Utilizing Lawrance’s designs as a foundation, Wright developed the air-cooled Model J Whirlwind series. A notable achievement was a Wright-Bellanca aircraft winning the 1925 Pulitzer Trophy Race powered by a Whirlwind engine. The Model J-5C Whirlwind notably powered Lindbergh’s 1927 solo transatlantic flight aboard the Spirit of St. Louis. Other distinguished aviators who flew with Wright engines included Richard E. Byrd and Amelia Earhart.
The merger with Curtiss in July 1929 led to the formation of Curtiss-Wright Corporation; their engine manufacturing units were consolidated in 1931. During World War II, the Paterson plant employed around 24,000 workers and produced nearly 75,000 engines for military aircraft such as B-25 and B-17 bombers, alongside engines for commercial airliners and rockets. The Paterson facility ceased operations in 1946.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright Vought | |||
| Wright Apache | 1926 | biplane | |
| Wright F2W | 1923 | 2 | Single-engine biplane racer |
| Dayton-Wright XO-3 | 1 | Single-engine biplane observation airplane | |
| Wright XF3W | 1926 | 1 | Single-engine biplane racer |
| Navy-Wright NW-1 | 1922 | 2 | Single-engine monoplane racer |
| Navy-Wright NW-2 | 1922 | 1 | Single-engine biplane racer |
| Wright-Bellanca WB-1 | 1925 | 1 | Single-engine monoplane utility airplane |
| Wright-Bellanca WB-2 Columbia | 1926 | 1 | Single-engine monoplane utility airplane |
| Bellanca 77-140 Bomber | 1934 | Twin-engine monoplane bomber | |
| Wright WP-1 | 1922 | 1 | License-built single-engine monoplane fighter |
Aircraft engines
| Engine Model | Year Introduced | Configuration | Power Output (hp) | Cooling Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright A | around 1919 | V-8 | 150 | liquid-cooled |
| Wright B | V-4 | 75 | liquid-cooled | |
| Wright C, D, D-1 (1920) | (V-8, L-6) | (200–350) | liquid-cooled | |
| Wright E series (1919–1926) | V-8 | 150–240 | liquid-cooled/marine | |
| Wright F, H series (1920s) | (V-9, V-8) | 150–360 | liquid-cooled | |
| Wright J series (1923–1930s) | (R-9, R-5, R-7 radial engines) | 165–420 | air-cooled | |
| Wright R series (1920s–1940s) | Radial engines R-9 through R-22 | 325–3,000 | air-cooled | |
| Wright T series (1922–1925) | V-12 | 500–675 | liquid-cooled/marine | |
| Wright V series (1928–1930) | V-12 | 600 | liquid or air cooling | |
| Lawrance L series (circa 1923) – licensed radial engines with 60 hp air cooling. | ||||
| Morehouse WM-80 (1926) – compact 29 hp air-cooled engine. | ||||
| J65 Turbojet (1951) – generating 7,239 lbf of thrust. |
See also
Additional resources
External links
- 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 1919
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1919
- Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1929
- 1919 establishments in New Jersey
- 1929 disestablishments in New Jersey
- Defunct manufacturing companies based in New Jersey
- Former components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average
- 1929 mergers and acquisitions
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment