The Power of Industry

What first drew me to this Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine was the composition. The polished pushrod tubes, closely spaced cooling fins, and overlapping components created a wonderful arrangement of shapes and textures. Although the sun was shining brightly, the cowling shielded the engine from direct sunlight, bathing it in softer light that revealed the subtle differences between its metal surfaces.

Just outside the frame was a familiar Pratt & Whitney emblem: a bald eagle surrounded by the words “Pratt & Whitney Aircraft — Dependable Engines.” It reminded me of another engine manufacturer’s badge, from Continental Motors, bearing the words “Powerful as the Nation” above an image of the U.S. Capitol dome.

Those two emblems stayed with me as I worked on the photograph afterward. Both expressed confidence in the machines their companies built, but they also reminded me of the enormous industrial effort behind American aviation during that era. The engines were remarkable achievements in themselves, yet each represented the work of countless people whose skills and ingenuity made them possible.

I began with an appreciation of the shapes, surfaces, and precision of a beautifully engineered machine. I came away thinking about something much larger.

The Power of Industry.