The Right Wright

Included in the project was a Wright R-760-2 engine which had been previously installed on a Navy N3N aircraft. In 2016, while attending the Antique Airplane Association fly-in, John came across an early, but newly overhauled, Wright R-760 (J6-7) (Serial #12409) for sale. Knowing that 97W would originally have had the earlier model R-760 installed, John decided to purchase it if anything, as “insurance” in case he ever needed a new engine. The engine was boxed up and put into storage while work progressed on many of the other aspects of the restoration. 

Nearly ten years later, in 2026, a decision needed to be made – which was the Right Wright for this project? John checked out the original logbook that had come with the Wright R-760 (J6-7) engine to see if there was anything noteworthy about this specific engine. Much to his surprise, that engine had been installed on a Pitcairn in 1938! What’s more, that exact engine, serial number A-12409, had been installed on 97W! His Pitcairn! The decision was then easy – the engine purchased from Air Associates in California 88 years ago, is The Right Wright. Now reunited!