This is the story of how a business started in a modest Los Angeles location evolved into a technological powerhouse that shaped 20th-century aviation, space exploration, and the automotive industry. Fueled by innovation, bold vision, and engineering breakthroughs, the company developed dozens of mission-critical solutions—from cabin pressurization systems to world-record-setting turbochargers. Read more on la-future.
Founding the Company
In 1936, engineer and entrepreneur John Clifford “Cliff” Garrett founded the Aircraft Tool and Supply Company in Los Angeles. Within a few short years, the business underwent several name and structural changes. It operated as the Garrett Supply Company, then AiResearch, and later the AiResearch Manufacturing Company, eventually rolling up into the Garrett Corporation.
Following its establishment in 1939, the Garrett Corporation brought three distinct divisions under one roof: Airsupply, Garrett Supply, and AiResearch Manufacturing. That same year, the company opened its first dedicated laboratory in a small space on Melrose Avenue. This site laid the groundwork for future aviation innovations, including early developments in passenger cabin pressurization.
Rapid growth forced the company to relocate in 1941 to a new facility on Sepulveda Boulevard, right next to what would become Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). By 1942, acting on a recommendation from the U.S. Army, AiResearch opened a manufacturing plant in Phoenix to move its strategic production capabilities further inland from the coast.
Military Innovations
AiResearch’s first major product was an oil cooler designed for military aircraft. The company manufactured components for the Douglas DB-7, and later produced intercoolers for the legendary B-17 and B-25 bombers—aircraft that played a pivotal role in World War II.
AiResearch also engineered the cabin pressurization system for the B-29 Superfortress, the first mass-produced aircraft capable of high-altitude flight. During the final stages of the war, the company’s engineers developed cooling turbines for the first American jet fighters, including the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star.
By the end of the war, the enterprise had sold over $112 million in military equipment and boasted a workforce of 5,000 employees. However, the post-war slump saw the staff slashed to just 600 people, forcing the company to pivot and explore new avenues for growth.
A Breakthrough in Miniature Turbines
Walter Ramsaur was one of the key engineers who completely changed the company’s trajectory. As early as 1943, he began working on small turbines designed to cool the cabins of jet aircraft. His invention utilized engine heat to spin a turbine and cool the air—a foundational principle that would drive future air conditioning systems.
By the early 1950s, the company offered 700 different products and held a massive portfolio of military contracts. By the end of the decade, the Garrett Corporation was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and was aggressively developing low-power gas turbine engines.
Having outgrown its space near LAX by 1950, the company broke ground on a new manufacturing complex in Torrance in 1959. By 1972, this facility employed over 3,000 people. During this era, AiResearch expanded its expertise into avionics, hydraulics, turbocharging, and life-support systems for both aircraft and spacecraft. Garrett products were installed on the Boeing 707, Douglas DC-8, Sud Aviation Caravelle, Lockheed Super Constellation, and many other aircraft.
Throughout the 1960s, AiResearch developed the life-support systems that sustained American astronauts during the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. Additionally, the company pioneered the creation of foil bearings, which eventually became standard equipment on all U.S. military aircraft.
The Turbocharging Era
In 1954, the company spun off its turbocharger operations into a separate unit: the AiResearch Industrial Division. This division would ultimately become the launchpad for Garrett’s booming automotive business.
Garrett delivered its first turbocharger to Caterpillar in 1955. A few years later, they released the T11 model, which became incredibly popular among commercial truck operators. In 1962, a Garrett turbocharger made its first appearance on a mass-produced passenger car—the Oldsmobile Jetfire.
The company went on to set a series of impressive milestones:
- powering the first turbocharged car to win the Indianapolis 500 (1968);
- creating the first turbocharger for a “hot hatch”—the Saab 99 (1977);
- introducing the first mass-market turbo for diesel cars—the Mercedes 300SD (1978);
- securing a victory for a turbocharged engine at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1978).
At the start of the decade, military contracts accounted for 70% of the company’s revenue. By the end of the 1970s, thanks to the massive success of their turbochargers and general aviation products, the situation had completely flipped: commercial projects now generated 70% of their income. Sales hit $1.3 billion, backed by a $1.9 billion order backlog.
Following the death of Cliff Garrett, the company became vulnerable to a corporate takeover. To protect itself, the Garrett Corporation merged with Signal Oil and Gas in 1964. Signal later merged with the Allied Corporation in 1985. In 1999, this combined entity acquired Honeywell Aerospace, adopting Honeywell as its definitive corporate identity. Parts of Garrett AiResearch were spun off into the Garrett Turbine Engine Company, while others became Garrett Aviation—a division that was eventually acquired by General Electric, and later, StandardAero.
Garrett AiResearch is a story of engineering courage and technological triumph. From a small laboratory, the company grew into a global leader in aerospace technologies. It introduced the world to groundbreaking turbocharging innovations and delivered essential solutions that transformed aviation, space exploration, and the automotive industry.