Curtiss-Wright Donates Aeronautical Blueprints to Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

Only U.S. Company With Direct Ties to the Wright Brothers Helps Preserve Aeronautical History

GASTONIA, N.C., Apr 11, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- The Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW CW.B), through its motion control segment, Curtiss- Wright Controls, Inc., has donated a complete inventory of aeronautical engine blueprints to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. and Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

This unprecedented collection of more than 1,300 reels of microfilm and 30 large cabinets of paper drawings document the conceptualization, design, manufacture and overhaul of Curtiss-Wright aeronautical engines from 1916 to 1960. According to National Air and Space Museum Director retired Gen. John R. "Jack" Dailey, the collection is very possibly the most complete technical record of its kind in existence.

"Curtiss-Wright has provided an invaluable service to the study of the history of aeronautical technology through this donation," Daily says. "Their commitment to preserving the corporation's legacy and America's overall aeronautical heritage should be applauded."

The Curtiss-Wright Corporation (1929-Present) and its predecessors, the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company (1916-1929) and the Wright Aeronautical Corporation (1919-1929), pioneered the development of aeronautical power plants. Innovative designs that are featured in the collection include: the 610 horsepower V-1400 racing engine that powered Jimmy Doolittle's Schneider Trophy-winning Curtiss R3C-2; the 225 horsepower J-5 Whirlwind that carried Lindbergh across the Atlantic in the Spirit of St. Louis; and the 2,200 horsepower R-3350 turbosupercharged radials of the Boeing B-29 Enola Gay. All three aircraft are in the National Air and Space Museum collection. The museum in Washington, and the Wright State University Special Collections and Archives in Dayton, Ohio, have agreed to joint custodianship of the Curtiss-Wright engine blueprints collection to better preserve it for posterity.

The National Air and Space Museum maintains 10,000 cubic feet of aviation and space related material that spans the history of flight from ancient times to the present day. A companion facility is currently being built at Washington Dulles International Airport, and will open in December 2003 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first powered flight. The facility, called the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center, will house the 80 percent of the museum's collection not generally seen by the public.

Wright State is a nationally known repository that maintains more than 70 collections documenting the history of aviation, including one of the most complete collections of Wright brothers' material in the world.

ABOUT CURTISS-WRIGHT CORPORATION

Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW CW.B) is a diversified company headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey. The company designs, manufactures and overhauls products for motion control and flow control applications and additionally is a provider of metal treatment services. The firm employs approximately 4,200 people. More information on Curtiss-Wright can be found on the Internet at curtisswright2014.q4web.com.

ABOUT CURTISS-WRIGHT CONTROLS

Headquartered in Gastonia, North Carolina, Curtiss-Wright Controls is the motion control segment of Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW CW.B). With manufacturing facilities in Gastonia, Shelby and around the world, Curtiss- Wright Controls is a leading technology-based organization providing niche motion control products, subsystems and services internationally. For more information, visit curtisswright2014.q4web.com.

SOURCE Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc.

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