In 1963 Hobbs was awarded the Collier Trophy for having directed the design and development of the J57 turbojet, the country's first such engine widely used in both military service and air transportation. He was an early fellow of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences (later the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics), served for many years on the Powerplant Committee of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, and was the recipient of the Presidential Certificate of Merit. FRANK A. TAYLOR, _Acting Director_ _National Air and Space Museum_ _March 1970_ Contents Foreword v Acknowledgments ix The Beginnings 1 The Engine of the First Flight, 1903 9 The Engines With Which They Mastered the Art of Flying 29 The Four-Cylinder Vertical Demonstration Engine and the First Production Engine 34 The Eight-Cylinder Racing Engine 47 The Six-Cylinder Vertical Engine 49 Minor Design Details and Performance of the Wright Engines 57 Appendix 62 Characteristics of the Wright Flight Engines 62 The Wright Shop Engine 64 Bibliography 69 Index 71 Acknowledgments As is probably usual with most notes such as this, however short, before completion the author becomes indebted to so many people that it is not practical to record all the acknowledgments that should be made. This I regret extremely, for I am most appreciative of the assistance of the many who responded to my every request. The mere mention of the Wright name automatically opened almost every door and brought forth complete cooperation. I do not believe that in the history of the country there has been another scientist or engineer as admired and revered as they are.