Pratt and Whitney - A History

Pratt and Whitney Aircraft manufactures aircraftBoeing 747 (1987) - the PW4000
engines. On their famous logo with the Eagle itBoeing 777 (1989) - the PW4084
says: "Dependable Engines". In later years theF/A-22 Raptor (1991) - the F119
company had the following slogan: "The EaglePratt & Whitney Aircraft manufactured
means Business". They have been manufacturing363,610 piston aircraft engines during World War
engines (piston and jet) since 1925. The man whoII which was nearly half of all the engines
started it was Frederick Brant Rentschler. Andproduced.
you thought the company was started by twoCharles Lindbergh was once employed at Pratt
people named Pratt and Whitney!& Whitney Aircraft The desk he used can
Well the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft story is abe seen at the Pratt & Whitney Museum in
fairly long and convoluted one. Rentschler foundedHartford, CT. Connecticut's economy relies in large
Wright Aeronautical. Wright Aeronautical waspart on the Defense Industry and Pratt &
previously Wright-Martin. Wright-Martin was aWhitney Aircraft is the states largest private
merger of the Glenn L. Martin Company and theemployer.
Wright Company which occurred in 1916. WrightOver the years Pratt & Whitney Aircraft has
Company was created by Orville and Wilburmade engines that have been installed in a large
Wright. Glenn Martin resigned from Wright-Martinvariety of civil and military aircraft. They have
in 1917. The company was renamed Wrightalso made engines (both piston and jet) that have
Aeronautical in 1919. The Wright "Whirlwind" enginebeen used to generate electrical power on the
was used on the plane that the famed aviatorground. There power plants have been installed in
Charles Lindbergh flew solo nonstop across theU.S. Navy ships. They even in had small helicopter
Atlantic Ocean on May 21, 1927. Then in 1924turbine engines installed on Indy and Formula One
Rentschler left Wright Aeronautical with someracing cars. Pratt & Whitney Aircraft also has
engineers after a dispute regarding funding for ana division in Canada that was founded in 1928. It
air-cooled engine which the government requestedmakes turboprop engines for small aircraft.
development of. So Rentschler headed toIn 1929 Rentschler incorporated the company
Connecticut to Pratt & Whitney which at thecalled: "United Aircraft and Transport Company".
time was called the "Pratt & WhitneyThe creation of United Airlines came about from
Machine Tool Company". It was founded in 1860this company. United Aircraft and Transport
by Francis A. Pratt and Amos Whitney (a cousinCompany then became United Aircraft
of Eli Whitney). They were located in Hartford,Corporation which was comprised of the following
Connecticut. Pratt & Whitney provided funds,four companies: Pratt & Whitney, Vought
building facilities, and even their name. Pratt &Aircraft (from Chance Vought - another aviation
Whitney Aircraft was incorporated in 1925.legend - but this company left in 1954), Sikorsky
The following is but a short list of well-knownAircraft (from famed helicopter inventor Igor
aircraft that have had Pratt & WhitneySikorsky), and Hamilton-Standard which makes
engines installed on them:propellers. Then in 1975 United Aircraft
B-52 Stratofortress (1952) - the J57Corporation became the United Technologies
Boeing 707 (1958) - the JT3Corporation which we know today. United
SR-71 Blackbird (1964) - the J58Technologies Corporation or UTC also has Carrier
Boeing 747 (1966) - the JT9D(air conditioning and refrigeration) and Otis
F-15 Eagle (1970) - the F100(elevators) as business units.
Boeing 727 (1980) - the JT8D