Frederick Brant Rentschler

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Birth

Rentschler was born in Hamilton, Ohio to George A. Rentschler and Phoebe Schwab, whose family owned the Republic Motor Car Co. that built Republic cars from 1908 until 1914. He graduated from Princeton University in 1909 and worked in his family's businesses as a molder and machinist. When the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, he joined the U.S. Army. As First Lieutenant and later Captain, he was assigned to inspect Hispano-Suiza aircraft engines manufactured under French license at the Wright-Martin plant in New Brunswick, New Jersey The armistice of November 11, 1918, ended the contract and caused the reorganization of Wright-Martin.

Aviator

Rentschler left the Army convinced that future aircraft would require lighter-weight engines with much greater power and higher reliability. His proposed design of an air-cooled engine flew in the face of conventional wisdom, which held that heavier liquid-cooled engines would power the future of aviation.

Rentschler became president of the Wright Aeronautical Corporation and pressed for research into his idea. Unable to convince his board of directors, largely composed of investment bankers with little aviation knowledge, he resigned in 1924 and, supported by old friend and Wright chief engineer George Mead, he developed a proposal for a high-powered air-cooled aircraft engine for the U.S. Navy. Admiral William A. Moffett promised to approve the purchase of such an engine.

Rentschler approached the Pratt & Whitney Tool Company of Hartford, Connecticut with his idea and on July 23 1925 they agreed to fund its development, creating the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company in which Rentschler and Mead had a controlling position.

Pratt & Whitney's first engine, completed on Christmas Eve 1925, was named the Wasp by Faye Belden Rentschler, who Frederick had married July 25 1921. The 425 horsepower Wasp easily passed its official qualification test in March 1926 and the Navy ordered 200 engines. The speed, climb, performance, and reliability that the engine offered revolutionized American aviation.

In 1928 Rentschler formed the United Aircraft and Transport Corporation, the predecessor to United Aircraft (later United Technologies), in cooperation with Vought and Boeing. United Aircraft and Transport completed the first coast-to-coast passenger network in March of that year.

In 1929 Rentschler ended his association with the Pratt & Whitney Machine Tool company but was allowed to keep the name Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company.

In the 1930s Rentschler committed Pratt & Whitney to helicopter experimentation. In 1939 Igor Sikorsky, an associate, designed and built the prototype for the modern helicopter.

Rentschler turned to developing jet engines after World War II. Pratt & Whitney produced the J-57 jet engine in 1953. The engine was used to power the first B-52 Stratofortress in 1954.

Awards

In 1951, Rentschler was made an Officer of the Légion d'honneur “for his contribution to the progress of aeronautical science".

In 1958, the United States Air Force presented him with the Civilian Service Award for Exceptional Service as a pioneer in the development, research and manufacture of aircraft engines.

Death

Rentschler died April 25 1956 at his winter home in Boca Raton, Florida.

Legacy

Pratt & Whitney's former company airfield, located in East Hartford, Connecticut, was named Rentschler Field in his honor. The airfield was decommissioned in 1995, and the land it was on was donated to the state of Connecticut in 1999. A stadium, also called Rentschler Field, was built on the site and opened in 2003 as the home field for the University of Connecticut football team.
Renbrook School, a private day school, was named after Rentschler and his wife. His wife leased out their estate to create this day school located in West Hartford on top of Avon Mountain.

References

* [http://www.voughtaircraft.com/heritage/peoplaces/html/brentschler.html Biography]
* [http://www.hbs.edu/leadership/database/leaders/744/ www.hbs.edu]