Wright Aeronautical

Wright Aeronautical
PredecessorWright-Martin
Founded1919 (1919)
Defunct1929 (1929) (remained a division)
FateMerged
SuccessorCurtiss-Wright
Key people
Charles 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 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 name First flight Number built Type Reference
Wright Vought [3]
Wright Apache 1926 biplane [3]
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 [3]
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

Model name Introduced Type Horsepower Cooling Reference
Wright A circa 1919 V-8 150 water [9][10]
Wright B V-4 75 water [10]
Wright C V-8 200 water [10]
Wright D V-8 200 water [10]
Wright D-1 1920 L-6 350 water [6]
Wright E 1919 V-8 150 hp water [11][10]
Wright E-1M Hurricane 1925 - 1926 V-8 240 marine [6][11]
Wright E-2 Before 1921 V-8 180 water [9][3][11]
Wright E-3 V-8 189 water [10]
Wright E-4 Tempest 1922 - 1923 V-8 200 water [3][6][11]
Wright E-4M Gold Cup V-8 200-240 marine [3][11]
Wright F V-9 150 water [10][12]
Wright H 1920 300 water [9][3]
Wright H-2 1920 V-8 320 water [9][6]
Wright H-2 Super Fighter Before 1921 360 water [9]
Wright H-3 Before 1921 V-8 300 water [9][3][13]
Wright H-3 Super Fighter Before 1921 360 water [9]
Wright I 1920 150 water [9][3]
Wright J-I 1923 air [3]
Wright J-3 1924 R-9 200 air [3][6]
Wright J-4 Whirlwind 1924 R-9 200 air [3][6]
Wright J-4B Whirlwind 1925 R-9 200 air [6]
Wright J-5 Whirlwind / Wright R-790 1925 - 1926 R-9 200 air [6][14][15][2]
Wright J-6 Whirlwind 5 / Wright R-540 1928 - 1930 R-5 165-175 air [3][16][6]
Wright J-6 Whirlwind 7 / Wright R-760 1925 R-7 225-320 air [3][16][6]
Wright J-6 Whirlwind 9 / Wright R-975 1928 R-9 300-420 air [3][16][6]
Wright J-6 Cyclone circa 1928 525 air [3]
Wright K water [10]
Wright K-2 water [10]
Wright L-3 Gale circa 1923 R-3 60 air [17]
Wright L-4 Gale circa 1923 R-3 60 air [3]
Wright P-1 1925 R-9 406 air [6][3]
Wright P-2 1925 - 1926 R-9 435 air [6]
Wright R-1 1920 - 1923 R-9 350 air [3][6]
Wright R-1200 Simoon 1925 - 1926 R-9 325 air [3][6]
Wright R-1300 Cyclone 1939 R-7 600 air [6]
Wright R-1510 Whirlwind 1933 R-14 600 air [18]
Wright R-1670 Whirlwind circa 1935 R-14 800 air [18]
Wright R-1750 Cyclone 1927 - 1930 R-9 525 air [3][6]
Wright R-1820 Cyclone 1931 R-9 1,000 air [19]
Wright R-2160 Tornado 1940 R-42 2,350 air [20]
Wright R-2600 1937 R-14 1,750 air [21]
Wright R-3350 Cyclone 1937 R-18 2,200 air [22]
Wright R-4090 Cyclone 1940s R-22 3,000 air [23]
Wright T V-12 525 water [3]
Wright T-1 Tornado V-12 600 water [3]
Wright T-1M Typhoon 1924 V-12 500 marine [6]
Wright T-2 Tornado 1922 - 1923 V-12 525 water [3][6]
Wright T-3 Tornado / Wright V-1950 1923 V-12 675 water [3][6]
Wright T-3A 1924 - 1925 V-12 525 water [6]
Wright T-3M Typhoon 600 marine [3]
Wright V-1460 1928 V-12 600 liquid or air [6][24]
Wright V-1560 1929 - 1930 V-12 600 air [6]
Wright Gipsy 1929 - 1931 L-4 85 air [6]
Wright-Gipsy L-320 1927 L-4 98 air [25][26]
Wright Morehouse WM-80 1926 O-2 29 air [6]
Wright J65 1951 Turbojet 7,239 lbf [27]
Wright J67 1950s, not produced Turbojet est. 15,000 lbf
Wright TJ32
Wright TJ38 Zephur not produced Turbojet

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "The Wright Years". The Paterson Museum. 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  2. ^ a b c d "Curtiss-Wright Corporation - Company - History". www.curtisswright.com. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai 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. ^ a b c d "Wright Aeronautical". Ken's Aviation Photography. Web Archive. 14 July 2003. Archived from the original on October 7, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b c d e f g h Cautley, J. R. ed. (1921). Wright Aircraft Engines: Complete Instructions for their installation, operation and maintenance. Paterson, N.J.: Wright Aeronautical Corporation. via Hathi Trust.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i Welshans, Terry (October 5, 2017). "The Wright Aeronautical Model H3 Construction Details" (PDF). American Engine Historical Society. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d e "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. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "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

  • Eden, Paul; Moeng, Soph, eds. (2002). The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF: Amber Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)

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