Wright Aeronautical
PredecessorWright-Martin
Founded1919
Defunct1929 (remained a division)
FateMerged
SuccessorCurtiss-Wright
Key peopleCharles Lawrance
ParentCurtiss-Wright
(after 1929)

Wright Aeronautical (1919–1929) was an American aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Paterson, New Jersey.[1] It was the successor corporation to Wright-Martin.[1] It built aircraft and was a supplier of aircraft engines to other builders in the golden age of aviation.[1] Wright engines were used by Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh.[1] In 1929, the company merged with Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Corporation to form Curtiss-Wright.[1][2]

History

In 1916, the Wright brothers' original aviation firm, the Wright Company, merged with Glenn L. Martin's firm, the Glenn L. Martin Company of California, to form the Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation.[1] In September 1917, Martin resigned from Wright-Martin and re-formed an independent Glenn L. Martin Company of Ohio (later of Maryland). After World War I in 1919, Wright-Martin was renamed Wright Aeronautical.[1][2] It moved to Paterson, New Jersey in 1919.[1]

In February 1919, an airplane with a Wright engine broke the world's speed record at 163+2⁄3 miles (263.4 km) per hour.[3] In November 1920, an airplane with a 300-horsepower Wright engine came in second place in the first Pulitzer Trophy Race in Long Island, New York.[3] Other planes using Wright engines came in fourth and fifth place in the race.[3]

In 1920, Wright produced a cannon engine for the Army that allowed shells to be fired through the airplane's propeller.[3] In 1921, a 300 horsepower engine by Wright again came in second place at the Pulitzer Trophy Race in Omaha, Nebraska.[3] In 1921, Wright developed a new six-cylinder dirigible engine with 400 horsepower, testing it for nine months.[3] In 1922, a plane with a Wright H-2 engine won the Mitchell Trophy Race.[3]

In May 1923, Wright Aeronautical purchased the Lawrance Aero Engine Company, acquiring Charles Lawrance's J-1 radial engine.[4][1][5] Lawrance became a vice president of Wright.[1] In 1925, Wright's president, Frederick B. Rentschler, left the company to found Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company; Lawrance replaced him as company president.[5] Rentschler poached several talented personnel from Wright to join his new firm.

Working off Lawrance's designs, Wright Aeronautical developed an air-cooled engine, the Model J Whirlwind series.[1][6][3] In 1925, a Wright-Bellanca airplane won the Pulitzer Trophy Race using a Wright Whirlwind engine.[3] In 1927, a Wright J-5C Whirlwind engine was used by Charles Lindbergh in the Spirit of St. Louis when he flew from New York City to Paris.[1][5][7] Wright engines were also used by other famed aviators, including Richard E. Byrd, Clarence Chamberlin, and Amelia Earhart.[1]

Wright Aeronautical merged with the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company on July 5, 1929, to become the Curtiss-Wright Corporation.[1][2] Their engine divisions merged in 1931.[5]

During World War II, the Paterson plant had 24,000 employees, working in three daily shifts.[8] They made some 75,000 engines for the North American B-25, the Boeing B-17, and other aircraft.[8] Wright also made engines for 44 commercial airlines and rocket engines for space travel.[8] However, the Paterson plant closed in 1946.[8]

Products

Aircraft

Model nameFirst flightNumber builtType
Wright F2W19232Single-engine biplane racer
Dayton-Wright XO-31Single-engine biplane observation airplane
Wright XF3W19261Single-engine biplane racer
Navy-Wright NW-119222Single-engine monoplane racer
Navy-Wright NW-219221Single-engine biplane racer
Wright-Bellanca WB-119251Single-engine monoplane utility airplane
Wright-Bellanca WB-2 Columbia19261Single-engine monoplane utility airplane
Bellanca 77-140 Bomber1934Twin-engine monoplane bomber
Wright WP-119221License built a single-engine monoplane fighter

Aircraft engines

Model nameIntroducedTypeHorsepowerCoolingReference
Wright Acirca 1919V-8150liquid[9][10]
Wright BV-475liquid[10]
Wright CV-8200liquid[10]
Wright DV-8200liquid[10]
Wright D-11920L-6350liquid[6]
Wright E1919V-8150liquid[11][10]
Wright E-1M Hurricane1925 – 1926V-8240marine[6][11]
Wright E-2Before 1921V-8180liquid[9][3][11]
Wright E-3V-8189liquid[10]
Wright E-4 Tempest1922 – 1923V-8200liquid[3][6][11]
Wright E-4M Gold CupV-8200-240marine[3][11]
Wright FV-9150liquid[10][12]
Wright H1920300liquid[9][3]
Wright H-21920V-8320liquid[9][6]
Wright H-2 Super FighterBefore 1921360liquid[9]
Wright H-3Before 1921V-8300liquid[9][3][13]
Wright H-3 Super FighterBefore 1921360liquid[9]
Wright I1920150liquid[9][3]
Wright J-I1923air[3]
Wright J-31924R-9200air[3][6]
Wright J-4 Whirlwind1924R-9200air[3][6]
Wright J-4B Whirlwind1925R-9200air[6]
Wright J-5 Whirlwind / Wright R-7901925 – 1926R-9200air[6][14][15][2]
Wright J-6 Whirlwind 5 / Wright R-5401928 – 1930R-5165-175air[3][16][6]
Wright J-6 Whirlwind 7 / Wright R-7601925R-7225-320air[3][16][6]
Wright J-6 Whirlwind 9 / Wright R-9751928R-9300-420air[3][16][6]
Wright J-6 Cyclonecirca 1928525air[3]
Wright Kliquid[10]
Wright K-2liquid[10]
Wright L-3 Galecirca 1923R-360air[17]
Wright L-4 Galecirca 1923R-360air[3]
Wright P-11925R-9406air[6][3]
Wright P-21925 – 1926R-9435air[6]
Wright R-11920 – 1923R-9350air[3][6]
Wright R-1200 Simoon1925 – 1926R-9325air[3][6]
Wright R-1300 Cyclone1939R-7600air[6]
Wright R-1510 Whirlwind1933R-14600air[18]
Wright R-1670 Whirlwindcirca 1935R-14800air[18]
Wright R-1750 Cyclone1927 – 1930R-9525air[3][6]
Wright R-1820 Cyclone1931R-91,000air[19]
Wright R-2160 Tornado1940R-422,350air[20]
Wright R-26001937R-141,750air[21]
Wright R-3350 Cyclone1937R-182,200air[22]
Wright R-4090 Cyclone1940sR-223,000air[23]
Wright TV-12525liquid[3]
Wright T-1 TornadoV-12600liquid[3]
Wright T-1M Typhoon1924V-12500marine[6]
Wright T-2 Tornado1922 – 1923V-12525liquid[3][6]
Wright T-3 Tornado / Wright V-19501923V-12675liquid[3][6]
Wright T-3A1924 – 1925V-12525liquid[6]
Wright T-3M Typhoon600marine[3]
Wright V-14601928V-12600liquid or air[6][24]
Wright V-15601929 – 1930V-12600air[6]
Wright Gipsy1929 – 1931L-485air[6]
Wright-Gipsy L-3201927L-498air[25][26]
Wright Morehouse WM-801926O-229air[6]
Wright J651951Turbojet7,239 lbf[27]
Wright J671950s, not producedTurbojetest. 15,000 lbf
Wright TJ32
Wright TJ38 Zephurnot producedTurbojet

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Wright Years". The Paterson Museum. 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  2. ^ "Curtiss-Wright Corporation - Company - History". www.curtisswright.com. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  3. ^ Van DeVenter, John H. Jr. "The Story of Wright Aero: Tracing the Growth of the Wright Aeronautical Corporation"." Air Transportation, December 22, 1928. via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ Gunston, Bill (2006). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. 5th ed. Phoenix Mill, Gloucestershire, England, UK: Sutton Publishing Limited. pp. 125, 244. ISBN 0-7509-4479-X.
  5. ^ "Wright Aeronautical". Ken's Aviation Photography. Web Archive. 14 July 2003. Archived from the original on October 7, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  6. ^ "Curtiss, Lawrance and Wright Specifications, 1913 ~ 1940". Aircraft Engine Historical Society. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  7. ^ Wraga, William. "The Wright Wirlwind 1919-1927". www.charleslindbergh.com. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  8. ^ Deitch, Joseph (1986-06-08). "Wright Aero, Silent Since '46, is Reborn at Peterson Museum". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  9. ^ Cautley, J. R. ed. (1921). Wright Aircraft Engines: Complete Instructions for their installation, operation and maintenance. Paterson, N.J.: Wright Aeronautical Corporation. via HathiTrust.
  10. ^ Welshans, Terry (October 5, 2017). "The Wright Aeronautical Model H3 Construction Details". American Engine Historical Society. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  11. ^ "Wright-Hispano E". 2003-08-19. Archived from the original on August 19, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  12. ^ "The Wright Cyclone Engine". Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology. 7 (4): 91–94. 1935. doi:10.1108/eb029923
  13. ^ "Wright H-3 V-8 Engine | National Air and Space Museum". airandspace.si.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  14. ^ "Wright J-5 Whirlwind". Ken's Aviation Photography. 2003-10-07. Archived from the original on October 7, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  15. ^ "Wright Whirlwind R-790-A (J-5) Radial 9 Engine | National Air and Space Museum". airandspace.si.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  16. ^ "Wright J-6 Whirlwind". 2003-10-05. Archived from the original on October 5, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  17. ^ "Lawrance L-3 Radial Engine - Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum". 2011-04-02. Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  18. ^ "Wright R-1510 Whirlwind". www.all-aero.com. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  19. ^ "Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9". Ken's Aviation Photography. Internet Archive. 2003-08-17. Archived from the original on August 17, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  20. ^ "Wright R-2160 Tornado". www.all-aero.com. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  21. ^ "Wright R-2600". Ken's Aviation Photography. Web Archive. 2003-10-06. Archived from the original on October 6, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  22. ^ "Wright R-3350 Cyclone 18". Ken's Aviation Photography. Web Archive. 2003-10-06. Archived from the original on October 6, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  23. ^ "Wright R-4090 Cyclone". all-aero.com. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  24. ^ "Wright V-1460". Ken's Aviation Photography. Web Archive. 2003-10-06. Archived from the original on October 6, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  25. ^ "Wright L-320 "Gipsy"". National Museum of the United States Air Force™. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  26. ^ "Wright "Gipsy I" L-320 Engine (1927) – Wings Of History Air Museum". Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  27. ^ "Wright J65". Ken's Aviation Photography. 2003-10-06. Archived from the original on October 6, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.

More information

  • The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF: Amber Books Ltd. 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.