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]
 | |
| Predecessor | Wright-Martin |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1919 |
| Defunct | 1929 (remained a division) |
| Fate | Merged |
| Successor | Curtiss-Wright |
Key people | Charles Lawrance |
| Parent | Curtiss-Wright (after 1929) |
History
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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 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 canon 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
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Aircraft
edit| 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
edit| 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
editReferences
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d "Curtiss-Wright Corporation - Company - History". www.curtisswright.com. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Wraga, William. "The Wright Wirlwind 1919-1927". www.charleslindbergh.com. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d e "Wright-Hispano E". 2003-08-19. Archived from the original on August 19, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ "The Wright Cyclone Engine". Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology. 7 (4): 91–94. 1935. doi:10.1108/eb029923.
- ^ "Wright H-3 V-8 Engine | National Air and Space Museum". airandspace.si.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ "Wright J-5 Whirlwind". Ken's Aviation Photography. 2003-10-07. Archived from the original on October 7, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ "Wright Whirlwind R-790-A (J-5) Radial 9 Engine | National Air and Space Museum". airandspace.si.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ a b c "Wright J-6 Whirlwind". 2003-10-05. Archived from the original on October 5, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Wright R-1510 Whirlwind". www.all-aero.com. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Wright R-2160 Tornado". www.all-aero.com. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ "Wright R-2600". Ken's Aviation Photography. Web Archive. 2003-10-06. Archived from the original on October 6, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Wright R-4090 Cyclone". all-aero.com. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ "Wright V-1460". Ken's Aviation Photography. Web Archive. 2003-10-06. Archived from the original on October 6, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ "Wright L-320 "Gipsy"". National Museum of the United States Air Force™. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ "Wright "Gipsy I" L-320 Engine (1927) – Wings Of History Air Museum". Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ "Wright J65". Ken's Aviation Photography. 2003-10-06. Archived from the original on October 6, 2003. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
More information
edit- 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)
External links
edit
Media related to Wright Aeronautical at Wikimedia Commons