{"id":22677,"date":"2021-12-17T10:43:56","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T14:43:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hartzellprop.com\/?p=22677"},"modified":"2021-12-17T10:48:13","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T14:48:13","slug":"wright-brothers-day-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hartzellprop.com\/wright-brothers-day-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Wright Brothers Day: Celebrating a Legacy of Aviation Innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright, two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, made history with the world\u2019s first successful controlled flight of a heavier-than-air powered flying machine, known as the Wright Flyer. At the time, few could have imagined how these self-taught engineers would pave the way for the global aviation industry as we know it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To commemorate that momentous first flight, \u201cWright Brothers Day\u201d is recognized each year on December 17. On this day, we reflect on Orville and Wilbur\u2019s legacy and celebrate their pioneering spirit, which continues to inspire innovators around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hartzell Propeller & The Wright Brothers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the process of designing the Wright Flyer, the Wright brothers conducted extensive research to understand how propellers worked. One of their most important discoveries was that propellers needed to act as airfoils that rotate to produce a horizontal force (thrust).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using data from their airfoil wind tunnel experiments, the brothers built two large, slow-turning propellers hand-carved from laminated layers of spruce and added a twist along the blade\u2019s length to create a more consistent angle of attack. These early blades produced a maximum efficiency of about 66 to 70 percent, establishing the foundation for airplane propeller design. However, there was still room for improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1914, Orville Wright moved to Oakwood, Ohio, and struck up a friendship with his neighbor, Robert N. Hartzell. After learning that he had a strong interest in aviation and engineering, Orville encouraged Robert to start manufacturing propellers at his father\u2019s walnut wood factory. In 1917, just as the U.S. was entering World War I, Robert founded the Hartzell Walnut Propeller Company to meet the country\u2019s immediate demand for stronger, more reliable propellers. Hartzell supplied the first \u201cLiberty\u201d aircraft propellers for warplanes and provided props for several pioneering aviation companies, including the Dayton-Wright Airplane company. In the early 1920s, the word \u201cliberty\u201d was removed from Hartzell propellers and replaced with \u201cBuilt on Honor,\u201d the brand promise you\u2019ll find proudly displayed on every Hartzell propeller to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hands
Hartzell Propeller: Built on Honor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to that fateful conversation with a very influential neighbor, Hartzell Propeller has since evolved to become the global leader in advanced technology aircraft propeller design and manufacturing, producing highly-advanced aircraft propeller systems engineered for safety, reliability, and maximum performance. Backed by over a century of aviation innovation, Hartzell Propeller continues to invest in quality products, world-class processes, exceptional service, and leading-edge technologies to advance the future of aviation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n