Pratt & Whitney is a very large American aircraft engine manufacturer. Pratt & Whitney engines are widely used in both civil and military aircraft.
The company was founded in 1925 by Frederick Rentschler, and has its headquarters in Hartford. In addition to aircraft engines, Pratt & Whitney manufactures fixed gas turbines for industry and power generation, marine turbines, and railway locomotive engines.
There have been many famous Pratt & Whitney engines, including:
- Wasp
- The JT8D which powered many of the second-generation jet airliners, including the Boeing 727, Douglas DC-9 and Boeing 737.
- The JT9D, as found in the original Boeing 747.