{"id":6985,"date":"2026-03-20T12:32:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T19:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/?p=6985"},"modified":"2026-03-20T13:30:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T20:30:25","slug":"the-history-and-transformation-of-garrett-airesearch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/eternal-6985-the-history-and-transformation-of-garrett-airesearch","title":{"rendered":"The History and Transformation of Garrett AiResearch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This is the story of how a <a href=\"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/eternal-2474-history-of-the-goodrich-tire-plant-the-pneumatic-palace-as-the-main-driving-force-of-the-la-economy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business<\/a> 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\u2014from cabin pressurization systems to world-record-setting turbochargers. Read more on <a href=\"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\">la-future<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"732\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6952\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image.png 732w, https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-300x106.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-696x246.png 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a275d1f74362\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a275d1f74362\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/eternal-6985-the-history-and-transformation-of-garrett-airesearch\/#Founding_the_Company\" title=\"Founding the Company\">Founding the Company<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/eternal-6985-the-history-and-transformation-of-garrett-airesearch\/#Military_Innovations\" title=\"Military Innovations\">Military Innovations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/eternal-6985-the-history-and-transformation-of-garrett-airesearch\/#A_Breakthrough_in_Miniature_Turbines\" title=\"A Breakthrough in Miniature Turbines\">A Breakthrough in Miniature Turbines<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/eternal-6985-the-history-and-transformation-of-garrett-airesearch\/#The_Turbocharging_Era\" title=\"The Turbocharging Era\">The Turbocharging Era<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Founding_the_Company\"><\/span>Founding the Company<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1936, engineer and entrepreneur John Clifford &#8220;Cliff&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rapid growth forced the <a href=\"https:\/\/philadelphia.name\/en\/eternal-3270-the-budd-company-a-story-of-rise-and-fall\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/philadelphia.name\/en\/eternal-3270-the-budd-company-a-story-of-rise-and-fall\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">company<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1415\" height=\"820\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-10.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6955\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-10.jpeg 1415w, https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-10-300x174.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-10-768x445.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-10-696x403.jpeg 696w, https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-10-1068x619.jpeg 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1415px) 100vw, 1415px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Military_Innovations\"><\/span>Military Innovations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>AiResearch&#8217;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\u2014aircraft that played a pivotal role in World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s engineers developed cooling turbines for the first American jet fighters, including the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1120\" height=\"913\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-11.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6958\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-11.jpeg 1120w, https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-11-300x245.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-11-768x626.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-11-696x567.jpeg 696w, https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-11-1068x871.jpeg 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1120px) 100vw, 1120px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Breakthrough_in_Miniature_Turbines\"><\/span>A Breakthrough in Miniature Turbines<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Walter Ramsaur was one of the key engineers who completely changed the company&#8217;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\u2014a foundational principle that would drive future air conditioning systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Turbocharging_Era\"><\/span>The Turbocharging Era<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s booming automotive business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2014the Oldsmobile Jetfire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company went on to set a series of impressive milestones:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>powering the first turbocharged car to win the Indianapolis 500 (1968);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>creating the first turbocharger for a &#8220;hot hatch&#8221;\u2014the Saab 99 (1977);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>introducing the first mass-market turbo for diesel cars\u2014the Mercedes 300SD (1978);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>securing a victory for a turbocharged engine at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1978).<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"785\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-13.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6964\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-13.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/cdn.la-future.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2026\/03\/image-13-229x300.jpeg 229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At the start of the decade, military contracts accounted for 70% of the company\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2014a division that was eventually acquired by General Electric, and later, StandardAero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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\u2014from cabin pressurization systems to world-record-setting turbochargers. Read more on la-future. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":498,"featured_media":6950,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1113],"tags":[6202,6198,6200,6203,6195,6191,6192,6194,6197,6207,6193,6204,6196,6205,6201,6199,6206],"moimportance":[1174,30,33],"motype":[1121],"moformat":[4017],"class_list":{"0":"post-6985","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-innovations","8":"tag-airesearch-aviation-systems","9":"tag-airesearch-aviation-technologies","10":"tag-airesearch-engineering-solutions","11":"tag-alliedsignal-and-garrett","12":"tag-cliff-garrett-biography","13":"tag-development-of-garrett-aerospace","14":"tag-development-of-garrett-corporation","15":"tag-establishment-of-airesearch","16":"tag-evolution-of-garrett-aviation-company","17":"tag-garrett-airesearch-history","18":"tag-garrett-airesearch-transformation","19":"tag-garrett-and-honeywell-history","20":"tag-garrett-automotive-turbochargers","21":"tag-garrett-b-29-cabin-pressurization","22":"tag-garrett-military-developments","23":"tag-garrett-turbocharger-history","24":"tag-garrett-turbochargers","25":"moimportance-vichni","26":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","27":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory","28":"motype-eternal","29":"moformat-c-l"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/498"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6985"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6986,"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6985\/revisions\/6986"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6985"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=6985"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=6985"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/la-future.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=6985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}