Dates

• Existence: 1919 - 1929

Historical Note: Wright Aeronautical Corporation

The Wright Aeronautical Corporation was the successor to the Wright-Martin Company, manufacturing aircraft and aircraft engines from 1919-1929. The company grew out of the Wright Company which had merged with the Glenn L. Martin Company in 1916. That combined company was short-lived as Martin resigned in 1917 and by 1919 Wright-Martin was reorganized and renamed as Wright Aeronautical Corporation. The company was based in Paterson, New Jersey.

Much of Wright Aeronautical’s business was in supplying engines to other manufacturers, and had only about seven original aircraft designs. They held the rights from the French government to manufacture Hispano-Suiza engines in the U.S., though after World War I the Hispano-Suiza name was no longer used and their engines were branded as Wright engines. In response to demands from the Navy, the company worked on designing radial engines. In 1923 Wright Aeronautical purchased the Lawrance Aero Engine Company, bringing Charles J. Lawrance on board as chief engineer. Under Lawrance’s leadership, the company designed the J-5C Whirlwind engine which would be used on Charles Lindbergh’s record-setting flight across the Atlantic in 1927.

In 1929 the company merged with Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company becoming the Curtiss-Wright Corporation.

Places

• Paterson (N.J.) (Residence)
• New Jersey (Residence)

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