Pratt & Whitney: Powering Aviation for 100 years (Part 2)

On Sunday February 23, 2025, the East Hartford Public Library welcomed Carl Cruff and Keith Lindstrom, who have 76 years of engineering experience at Pratt & Whitney between them, to help us recognize the 100th anniversary year of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, 1925-2025. Both Carl and Keith also volunteer their time at the New England Air Museum, assisting with educational programs and the restoration of historic aircraft and engines.

The presentation began with Keith Lindstrom acquainting the audience with work & collections of the New England Air Museum (Parts 1 & 2), followed by Carl Cruff, who provided an overview of this remarkable company’s 100 year history of leadership and technical innovation for aircraft propulsion. Part 3 begins with Carl sharing the history of Frederick Rentschler and the early history of aviation; Part 4 picks up with the design for the first Wasp engine in the New Jersey garage of engineer Andy Wilgoos and the arrival of Rentschler in Hartford, leading to the formation of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft; Part 5 focuses on advances in Wasp engine technology and meeting the demands of WWII production; Part 6 concludes the presentation with P&W entering the jet age and then rocket propulsion.

Jana Colacino
Library Specialist/Cultural Asset Manager