Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney has a long tradition of leadership and innovation in aviation propulsion. Our history began in the 1920s and has grown over the decades. We have continually transformed and reinvented our business to provide superior products and services to our customers.

In 1925, Pratt & Whitney Aircraft was founded by Frederick B. Rentschler, a pioneer in the design of air-cooled radial engines that delivered unmatched power-to-weight ratios. His first engine, the R-1340 Wasp, transformed military and commercial aviation. It is still in use today. In 1928, the Canadian division of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft was established.

In 1944, Pratt & Whitney launched its gas turbine and jet propulsion initiative. The company built a wind tunnel, laboratory, and engineering center to support the efforts of our allies during World War II. By 1945, wartime production included more than 300,000 Pratt & Whitney engines, sold by service members as extremely reliable, a legacy that continues today.

From that moment on, Pratt & Whitney continued to design more powerful, agile, and reliable engines, innovating and becoming a leader in the aerospace industry. Today, Pratt & Whitney has more than 85,000 engines in service and approximately 17,000 customers worldwide.