Pratt & Whitney celebrates centenary as a leader in aviation engine development

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Global Industry News

Pratt & Whitney celebrates centenary as a leader in aviation engine development

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Shane G. Eddy president at Pratt & Whitney | RTX

By Sky Industry News

Jul 24, 2025

Pratt & Whitney is celebrating a significant milestone in the aviation industry, marking 100 years since its incorporation. The company has played a crucial role in both military and commercial aviation with its range of engines, becoming a key player in aircraft engine development.

Reflecting on its centenary, Pratt & Whitney highlights the people, products, and milestones that have shaped its history. The company emphasizes dependability, with many customers worldwide using its engines for both military and commercial aircraft.

Founded on July 22, 1925, Pratt & Whitney's early success came with the R-1340 Wasp radial engine. This engine gained recognition when the US Navy ordered 200 units shortly after the company's founding. Shane Eddy, President of Pratt & Whitney, commented on the anniversary: "Our 45,000 employees worldwide work every day to uphold our 100-year legacy of safety, innovation, and dependable engines."

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Frederick Rentschler founded Pratt & Whitney after recognizing the potential of lightweight air-cooled radial engines. The company's adaptation to technological changes led to the development of one of the first twin-spool gas turbine engines during the Jet Age.

Pratt & Whitney's jet engines powered significant aircraft like the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. Despite being produced only between 1952 and 1962, this bomber remains in service today.

Currently, Pratt & Whitney is recognized among modern engine makers for providing propulsion technologies to over 17,000 customers. More than 85 airlines use its GTF engines for Airbus A220s and A320neos. In defense sectors, their F135 engine powers Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II fighter jet.

The company operates as a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies and is headquartered in East Hartford. It employs over 45,000 staff across more than 40 countries.

Shane Eddy noted that over 90,000 P&W engines are currently in service globally: "A P&W-powered plane takes off or lands every second on average around the world."