Innovation Takes Flight

Innovation Takes Flight
The 1920s: The decade that brought us Pratt & Whitney Aircraft and defined a new era of aviation.

A Legacy Is Born

1925

Pratt & Whitney Aircraft was established by aircraft engine designer, Frederick B. Rentschler: a visionary who was confident he could produce a 400 to 500 horsepower air-cooled radial engine that would be superior to the then-dominant liquid-cooled engines. By April 1925, Rentschler and his brother had convinced an Ohio manufacturer – with a machine tool division called Pratt & Whitney, in Hartford – that his project had merit. The new company, Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, was born.

The Wasp engine – Pratt & Whitney's very first product – is a historic engineering landmark. Powering nearly 100 aircraft types, the Wasp was a pioneer for reliable commercial aircraft service and had a significant impact on military aviation.

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Introducing Pratt & Whitney Canada

1928

The Canadian Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company, Ltd. was originally established and founded as a service center for its parent company's aircraft engines. However, the production of Wasp engines was transferred to Pratt & Whitney Canada when the founding entity shifted focus to develop jet engines.

Today, Pratt & Whitney Canada has 66,000 engines in service with more than 15,000 customers across 200+ countries and territories. In 2023, we achieved 1 billion flight hours across general, regional, and business aviation, helicopters, and APUs.

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66,000

More than 15,000

200+

Pratt & Whitney achieved 1 billion flight hours across general, regional, and business aviation, helicopters and APUs.

Innovation Takes Flight

Explore the 1920s

Reaching New Heights

Explore the 1960s

Changing the Game

Explore from the 1980s to the 2000s

Revolutionary Aircraft

Explore the 2010s

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