Quarterlytics / Industrials / Aerospace & Defense / Curtiss-Wright

Curtiss-Wright

cw · NYSE Industrials
Claim this profile
Ticker cw
Exchange NYSE
Sector Industrials
Industry Aerospace & Defense
Employees 5001-10,000
← All annual reports
FY2009 Annual Report · Curtiss-Wright
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
Soaring to New Heights
For 80 years and counting

10 Waterview Boulevard, Parsippany, New Jersey  07054
www.curtisswright.com

80 Years of Achievement

Eighty years ago, Curtiss-Wright was formed by the merger of companies 

created  by  Glenn  Curtiss  and  the  Wright  brothers  —  pioneers  who 

soared  to  new  heights  of  human  achievement  that  ushered  in  the 

era  of  aviation.  Considered  by  many  to  be  the  single  most  important 

invention of the 20th century, manned flight forever altered the way in 

which humans interact globally, breaking down cultural barriers and 

integrating business markets. The innovative and trailblazing spirit of 

these founders made history, and today Curtiss-Wright is still leading 

through innovation. 

The world has changed dramatically over the ensuing decades and so 

has Curtiss-Wright. Yet the founders’ drive and determination is echoed 

by Curtiss-Wright’s current employees and is best captured through the 

lenses of performance, partnership and intrinsic value. 

2009 Annual Report

Soaring to New Heights
For 80 years and counting

80 Years of Achievement

Eighty years ago, Curtiss-Wright was formed by the merger of companies 

created  by  Glenn  Curtiss  and  the  Wright  brothers  —  pioneers  who 

soared  to  new  heights  of  human  achievement  that  ushered  in  the 

era  of  aviation.  Considered  by  many  to  be  the  single  most  important 

invention of the 20th century, manned flight forever altered the way in 

which humans interact globally, breaking down cultural barriers and 

integrating business markets. The innovative and trailblazing spirit of 

these founders made history, and today Curtiss-Wright is still leading 

through innovation. 

The world has changed dramatically over the ensuing decades and so 

has Curtiss-Wright. Yet the founders’ drive and determination is echoed 

by Curtiss-Wright’s current employees and is best captured through the 

lenses of performance, partnership and intrinsic value. 

2009 Annual Report

Aircraft Carriers

Submarines

Shareholder Information

Electro-Mechanical 
Systems

Commercial Power 
Services

Surface Ships

Commercial Nuclear  
Power Generation

Hydroelectric 
Power Generation

Processing/Refining

Flow Control

Oil & Gas Systems

Control Systems

Valve Systems

Fossil-Fired 
Power Generation

General 
Industrial

Engineered Systems

Integrated Sensing

Commercial  
Aerospace

Ground Defense

Auto Racing

Military Aerospace

Municipal Vehicles

Commercial Ships

Motion Control

Embedded Computing

Helicopters

High-Speed Trains

Recording Studios

Shot Peening

Laser Peening

Automotive

Farm Vehicle 
Equipment

Fossil-Fired  
Power Generation

Commercial 
Aerospace

Off-Road/Construction 
Equipment

Commercial Nuclear 
Power Generation

Metal Treatment

Specialty Coatings

Thermal Treatment

Oil & Gas

General 
Industrial

Architectural

Corporate Headquarters

10 Waterview Boulevard, 2nd Floor 

Parsippany, New Jersey  07054  

www.curtisswright.com 

Tel: (973) 541-3700

Annual Meeting

Stock Transfer Agent  
and Registrar

For services such as changes of address, 

replacement of lost certificates or 

dividend checks, and changes in 

registered ownership, or for inquiries 

as to account status, write to American 

The 2010 annual meeting of stockholders 

Stock Transfer & Trust Company at 

Investor Information

Investors, stockbrokers, security analysts 

and others seeking information about 

Curtiss-Wright Corporation should contact 

Alexandra M. Deignan, Director of Investor 

Relations, at the Corporate Headquarters.

Shareholder Communications

will be held on May 7, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., 

59 Maiden Lane, New York, New York 

Any interested party wishing to 

at the Parsippany Sheraton Hotel, 199 

10038. Please include your name, 

communicate directly with our Board of 

Smith Road, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054.

address and telephone number with all 

Directors should write to Dr. William W. 

Stock Exchange Listing

correspondence. Telephone inquiries  

Sihler at Southeastern Consultants Group, 

may be made to (800) 937-5449 or  

LTD, P.O. Box 5645, Charlottesville, 

The Corporation’s common stock is 

(212) 936-5100 internationally.  

Virginia 22905.

listed and traded on the New York Stock 

Internet inquiries should be directed to 

Exchange under the symbol CW.

www.amstock.com. Hearing-impaired 

Financial Reports

Common Shareholders

As of December 31, 2009, the approximate 

number of holders of record of common 

stock, par value of $1.00 per share of the 

Corporation, was 5,797.

Forward-Looking Statements

This brochure contains not only historical 

information, but also forward-looking 

statements regarding expectations of future 

performance of the Corporation. Forward-

looking statements involve risk and 

uncertainty. Please refer to the Corporation’s 

2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a 
discussion relating to forward-looking 

statements contained in this brochure and 

risk factors that could cause future results 

to differ from current expectations.

shareholders are invited to log on to the 

This brochure includes some of the 

website and select the Live Chat option.

periodic financial information required 

Direct Stock Purchase Plan/
Dividend Reinvestment Plan

A plan is available to purchase or sell 

shares of Curtiss-Wright common stock. 

The plan provides a low-cost alternative 

to the traditional methods of buying, 

holding and selling stock. The plan also 

provides for the automatic reinvestment 

of Curtiss-Wright dividends. For more 

information, contact our transfer agent, 

American Stock Transfer & Trust 

Company, toll-free at (877) 854-0844.

to be on file with the Securities and 

Exchange Commission. The Corporation 

also files an Annual Report on Form 

10-K, a copy of which may be obtained 

free of charge. These reports, as well as 

additional financial documents such as 

proxy statements and quarterly reports on 

Form 10-Q, may be obtained by written 

request to Alexandra M. Deignan, Director 

of Investor Relations, at the Corporate 

Headquarters, or at the Corporation’s 

website, www.curtisswright.com.

Design: Eisenman Associates        
Photos courtesy of: The Boeing Company; General Dynamics Electric Boat; General Dynamics Land Systems, 
Inc.; Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, Hammondsport, NY; Library of Congress; Naval History and Heritage 
Command; NASA; Rolls-Royce plc; and Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University

2    |    Letter to Shareholders

Dear Shareholders:

Martin R. Benante
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

The year 2009 marks a milestone in the history of our company. 
The formation of Curtiss-Wright 80 years ago united the visionary 
corporations created by the “Fathers of American Aviation” — 
Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers. Innovation and discipline 
drove our founders’ success, and they were able to achieve what 
few people had even envisioned.

The drive for technological innovation 
and superior performance still fuels 
Curtiss-Wright today. The Wright brothers’ 
critical wing designs and Curtiss’ engine 
advances are echoed today in stealth 
weapon bay door systems on fighter jets, 
command and control of next-generation 
unmanned aircraft and ground vehicles, 
generators and pumps that power nuclear 
submarines and aircraft carriers, and 
fully automated technology advances that 
keep people out of harm’s way in vital 
power generation, refining and industrial 
operations around the world. 

I have often cited the importance of 
our diversified business model to our 
long-term success. That diversification, 
combined with our focus on innovation 
and high-performance engineering, adds 
stability to our results and supports 
growth through varying economic 
conditions. This was again true in 2009.

2009 Performance 

Without a doubt, 2009 was a year full of 
challenges that the global economy has not 
experienced in decades. The ripple effect 
of the financial market meltdown, volatile 
energy prices and a dramatic downward 
correction in the housing market manifested 
early in 2009 with a 6.4% decline in gross 
domestic product and concluded the year 
with double-digit unemployment. While 
many reactions centered on cost cutting, 
cash conservation and otherwise battening 
down the hatches, our strong backlog 
and portfolio diversification enabled us to 
successfully weather the downturn while 
maintaining our focus on long-term growth. 
As the economic recovery gains footing in 
2010, our portfolio of highly engineered 
products is well positioned to benefit 
from increasing demand, and our strong 

capitalization will enable us to actively 
pursue our strategic growth plan.

In 2009, net sales of $1.8 billion represented 
a decline of 1% from the prior year. This 
is not to say we did not endure difficulty. 
Certainly, sagging demand for energy, 
transportation and industrial goods led to 
significant contractions in our commercial 
markets. While hardships in the general 
economy provided significant headwinds, 
they were essentially offset by the buildup 
of our commercial nuclear business and the 
momentum of defense spending.

Our operating profitability was negatively 
impacted primarily by the sharp drop in 
commercial demand, resulting in an operating 
margin of 9.4% versus 10.7% in the prior 
year. While we focus on lean efficiency 
improvements in good times and bad, in 2009 
we accelerated business consolidation and 
restructuring activities across our operations. 
Lowering costs to respond to reduced market 
demand is, frankly, an unrewarding task, but 
we implemented our plans swiftly, and the 
result is a leaner, more efficient operation 
that will ultimately benefit from our cohesive 
strategy. Some of the benefits from these 
actions came in fiscal 2009, but we expect 
further leverage from these improvements for 
our businesses going forward.

On the bottom line, our net earnings of $95 
million, or $2.08 per fully diluted share, 
reflect a less than satisfying 13% decline 
from the prior year, but still an impressive 
achievement in light of the challenges 
endured. Furthermore, our significant 
free cash flow of $121 million provides 
considerable liquidity for strategic growth 
as our markets rebound. Curtiss-Wright 
skillfully navigated the downward trends in 
2009 because of the expertise, flexibility and 
relentless dedication of our employees.

demand was cut in half, mirroring North 
American automotive production, and we 
had reduced demand across all markets, 
echoing the double-digit decline in U.S. 
industrial production that has occurred 
over the past two years. In positive contrast, 
commercial nuclear power market gains of 
15% mitigated a more negative impact, and 
we continue to view our unique leverage to 
this market as a valuable differentiator. 

It is in such tumultuous times that our 
diversification strategy truly demonstrates its 
long-term value. As we adapted to the rapid 
change in market dynamics, we benefited 
from the base load demand generated by our 
nuclear and defense technologies. As the 
commercial markets stabilize, their leverage 
will be further enhanced by the operational 
improvements we have enacted. As a 
testament to our confidence in our ability 
to continue to generate earnings growth, 
we maintained our dividend, providing 
a consistent distribution of value to our 
shareholders. Ultimately, there is room for 
tremendous growth as our markets rebound, 
and we are uniquely positioned within our 
core markets and well capitalized to capture 
the opportunities. 

80th Anniversary and Counting

Fewer than 20 companies whose shares 
changed hands on the New York Stock 
Exchange in 1929 still trade under 
their original listing. Curtiss-Wright is 
proud to be one of them. We’ve not only 
persevered, we’ve continued to succeed 
and innovate through some of the most 
volatile periods in American history. 

As always, I would like to thank the 
enduring dedication of our 7,600 employees, 
whose profound drive and dedication will 
keep Curtiss-Wright soaring to new heights.

Martin R. Benante
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Executing on Growth

In a year of weakening demand and 
program disruptions, we’ve continued to 
make investments throughout the company. 
We completed the build-out of our facilities 
in Cheswick, Pennsylvania, to meet the 
expansion of the AP1000 and naval 
development programs. We completed the 
consolidation of our industrial controls 
business from nine locations to one 
state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. We 
invested nearly $55 million in research and 
development for new product innovations 
across our core markets of defense, energy 
and general industry, while continuing 
to stay active in the acquisition market, 
spending an aggregate $67 million for five 
companies in 2009. While our solid balance 
sheet and cash flow are primed for more 
significant opportunities, if we stay true to 
our disciplined approach, I am confident 
it will continue to prove to be an attractive 
growth engine.

Most importantly, we continued our focus 
on employee development with training 
initiatives at all levels and leadership 
programs to convey best practices 
throughout the organization. Innovation, 
operational excellence and customer 
satisfaction are more than values at 
Curtiss-Wright. They are everyday passions 
and key to our formula for success. 

Our efforts are best demonstrated by 
our $1.7 billion in new orders, which 
solidifies backlog at $1.6 billion and 
provides the foundation for significant 
momentum as demand rebuilds. 

Strategic Markets Sustain 
Shareholder Value

In defense, our 15% growth was fueled 
by demand for improved surveillance 
and reconnaissance technologies in all 
branches of the military. In addition, 
our proprietary, power-dense propulsion 
technologies are at the heart of the U.S. 
Navy’s expanding fleet of aircraft carriers, 
submarines and destroyers, and we are 
providing next-generation marine landing 
systems for helicopters and jets. 

In our commercial markets, we experienced 
a 10% decline, mainly stemming from the 
lack of liquidity in the financial markets, 
instability in energy prices and the global 
recession. Most significantly, automotive 

Curtiss-Wright 2009 Annual Report    |    3

Net Sales
Dollars in millions

$2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

’05

’06

’07

’08

’09

Operating Income
Dollars in millions

$200

150

100

50

0

’05

’06

’07

’08

’09

Net Income
Dollars in millions

$120

100

80

60

40

20

0

’05

’06

’07

’08

’09

4    |    20th Century

20th Century:
Kitty Hawk to Global Hawk

GleNN CuRtISS aND WIlBuR aND ORvIlle WRIGHt 
were self-taught engineers who separately took on the challenge of 

manned flight in the early years of the 20th century. The Wright brothers’ 

success on the windswept dunes at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on 

December 17, 1903, is well known. Less often highlighted are Glenn 

Curtiss’ numerous inventions and achievements associated with the 

development of aviation, such as the first dual pilot control and the first 

radio communication with an aircraft in flight. 

Working in the secrecy of their Dayton, Ohio, bicycle shop, Wilbur and 

Orville built a wind tunnel in the fall of 1901 to repeatedly test and refine 

their key invention: the wing-warping system that enabled their triumph 

at Kitty Hawk. They conducted two years of tests on variations of their 

system, initially using kites and gliders, in the wind tunnel as well as in 

real-world conditions, before piloting their own fragile plane into history. 

Their 1906 “flying machine” patent of the wing-warping system marked a 

milestone in the annals of American engineering and invention.

Glenn Curtiss also came to aviation via the bicycle business; in his case 

it was a small shop on the town square in Hammondsport, New York. 

An intrepid bicycle racer with a love of speed, by 1901 the 23-year-

old Curtiss was strapping small engines onto bicycles and had soon 

graduated to building motorcycles. His engines first caught the attention 

of dirigible makers, and then, in 1907, a group of aviation enthusiasts 

led by Alexander Graham Bell became determined to build upon the 

Wright brothers’ triumph. It didn’t take them long. This period of close 

collaboration with Bell’s Aerial Experimentation Association led to 

Curtiss’ subsequent winning of the 1908 Scientific American Trophy for a 

flight of more than one kilometer in a straight line and his 1909 victory in 

Reims, France, outperforming the Wright brothers’ planes.

While much of the early era of aviation was marked by competition among the Wright 

brothers, Glenn Curtiss and other industry pioneers, the seeds of partnership also played a 
key role in the evolution of aviation and the Curtiss-Wright Corporation from early on. 

Curtiss-Wright 2009 Annual Report    |    5

[Above] “The Fastest Man on Earth,” a title Glenn Curtiss 
earned by clocking 136.3 mph on his V8-powered motorcycle, 
was also the “Founder of the American Aircraft Industry” and 
the “Father of Naval Aviation.”

[Below left] The Wright brothers used their wind tunnel, a 
rectangular wooden box measuring 16 inches wide, 16 inches 
tall and 6 feet long, to compile the data that would lead to 
building an accurate and reliable wing for their “Flyer.”

[Below right] Wing warping, the twisting motion of the wings 
of an aircraft to produce lateral control, was first applied to 
kites and gliders by the Wright brothers and was eventually 
used in their powered aircraft.

6    |    20th Century

[Above] After roughly a month of trial flights 
to record speed and duration, which ultimately 
exceeded the army’s requirements for both, the 
U.S. Army formally accepted the Wright Flyer 
as its first airplane on August 2, 1909, at a cost 
of $30,000. 

[Left] Demonstration pilot Eugene Ely and his 
Curtiss Pusher biplane before taking off from the 
USS Pennsylvania on January 18, 1911. Earlier 
that day he landed on the ship’s deck to complete 
the first landing on a warship. Ely’s flying attire 
included rubber inner tubes worn around his 
shoulders as a life preserver.

a History of Partnership with the Military 
The Wrights and Curtiss each pursued early partnerships with 

working seaplane. By January 1911, he made the first successful 

a customer that proved instrumental to the development of 

flight of a practical seaplane, taking off from and landing on 

aviation and aeronautics: the U.S. military. The Wrights secured 

water. That May, the U.S. Navy ordered its first two planes from 

an order from the Army Signal Corps in 1909, marking the dawn 

Curtiss. He also sold seaplanes to the navies of Russia, Germany 

of military aviation in America. The next year, Orville Wright 

and Japan over the next two years. More impactful was his offer 

opened the first Wright Flying School on a site in Montgomery, 

of free flying lessons to officers in the U.S. Army and Navy. By the 

Alabama, that later became Maxwell Air Force Base. 

onset of World War I, the concept of naval aviation was embraced, 

Curtiss concentrated his attention on the Navy. He had 

experimented with a design for a “hydro-aeroplane” on the Finger 

Lakes of New York in 1908 and was convinced he could build a 

and Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company began producing 

more than 100 aircraft per week.

During the early years of manned flight, the Wright 
brothers’ successor companies were known principally 
for producing superior engines. The Wright-Martin 
Aircraft Corporation produced more than 5,800 
Hispano-Suiza aircraft engines, popularly known 
as “Hissos,” in support of the World War I effort. 
While their corporate history took on many names as 
various investors and inventors lent their expertise 
to the development of aviation, the most productive 
years were achieved and memorialized as the Wright 
Aeronautical Corporation. 

Curtiss’ corporate offspring, on the other hand, took 
the lead in producing aircraft, notably with the JN-4 
“Jenny,” as well as its H Series of “flying boats,” 
or seaplanes. By the end of World War I, Curtiss 
Aeroplane and Motor Company had employed 
18,000 and produced more than 10,000 planes 
and engines. However, Curtiss had not abandoned 
the engine business by any means — in 1917, the 
company sold the first engine to an airplane maker 
named Bill Boeing.

Curtiss-Wright 2009 Annual Report    |    7

[Above left] A worker prepares a Wright Cyclone 
radial engine for installation on a North American 
B-25 bomber. Initially developed in the 1920s and 
continually improved upon over the years, the 
Cyclone was a proven performer in both military 
and commercial markets. The engine was extremely 
popular with the military in World War II. 

[Above right] Charles Lindbergh successfully 
completed the first ever single-engine transatlantic 
flight, from New York to Paris, using Wright 
Aeronautical’s J-5C Whirlwind air-cooled radial 
engine in his Ryan monoplane, the Spirit of St. Louis. 
Produced in 1925, the Whirlwind’s redesigned 
cylinders offered increased power and reliability 
compared to earlier radial engines.

Roaring into the 1920s
The U.S. commercial aviation industry developed in earnest following 

the Allied forces’ victory in World War I. Advances in plane, engine and 

propeller designs continued throughout the 1920s. Spurring the advances 

were promotional speed races held throughout the United States and 

Europe. By 1923, a Curtiss racing plane powered by its water-cooled D-12 engine set a 

world speed record of 266 miles per hour. Realizing that such racers were prototypes for 

the next generation of fighter planes, the military also stepped up orders in the latter half 

of the decade.

Wright Aeronautical’s engine business led the next wave of industry development in the 

1920s. The company focused on the more dependable air-cooled radial engine, yielding 

the Whirlwind and Cyclone engines, both hugely influential air-cooled engines in the 

interwar years. With Charles Lindbergh’s dramatic 1927 solo crossing of the Atlantic 

Ocean in the Spirit of St. Louis, a custom-built plane powered by a single Wright J-5C 

Whirlwind radial engine, commercial aviation became widely accepted as a reliable 

means of transportation.

the Founding of Curtiss‑Wright
Over the years, Curtiss and the Wright brothers, ever the inventors, had essentially 

given over control of the production and manufacturing companies they developed 

to pursue other interests. Forces much more sweeping than the rivalry between the 

Wrights and Curtiss — including the popular mania generated by Charles Lindbergh’s 

solo transatlantic flight and the booming late 1920s stock market, particularly in 

aviation shares — eventually caused the merging of business interests.

In 1929, a group of New York investors merged 12 corporate entities, including Curtiss 

Aeroplane and Wright Aeronautical, to form the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, making 

it the largest aviation holding company at the time. It was also publicly listed on the 

New York Stock Exchange, where it still trades today. The merger created a vertically 

integrated aviation powerhouse that included plane and engine manufacturing, airline 

operations and services, and airports. 

8    |    20th Century

[Below left] The workhorse of World War II aviation, 
the P-40 Warhawk saw action in both the Pacific 
and European theaters. The 15,000th P-40 that was 
produced displayed the insignia of the 28 different 
nations that deployed the plane for military service, a 
testament to the Warhawk’s utility.

[Below right] The movie Flying Tigers was released 
in 1942 and starred the P-40 along with John Wayne, 
who was appearing in his first war film. 

During World War II Curtiss-Wright and all aviation companies worked in close 
partnership with the military to build the arsenal of democracy. The output of the 
company’s sprawling airplane, engine and propeller plants across the United States 
totaled more than 28,000 planes, 130,000 engines and 145,000 propellers, generating 
more than $1 billion in annual revenue by war’s end and making Curtiss-Wright the 
second largest corporation in America. 

Shortly thereafter, the aviation industry suffered severe cutbacks 

during the Great Depression, as did virtually every segment of 

American industry. However, there were many areas of strength 

for Curtiss-Wright. In particular, continued improvements in the 

Cyclone engine led to its use on the Douglass DC-3, the workhorse 

commercial plane of the era. By mid-decade, the engines were 

World War II
The advent of World War II created an unprecedented surge in 

aircraft, engine and propeller design and production. It was long 

overdue. On September 1, 1939, the U.S. Army Air Corps had just 

2,400 aircraft of all types, and many were obsolete. 

producing 950 horsepower. Company engineers continued to boost 

the performance of existing product lines, including propellers. 

The Curtiss-Wright P-40, an upgrade of the P-36, went into service 
in the summer of 1940 as the first-line fighter of the U.S. Army 

The variable-pitch propeller, the hollow-steel propeller and the 

Air Corps. It was essentially the only fighter the United States 

concept of “feathering” — the disengaging of a propeller from an 

had throughout 1941 and 1942. The most famous P-40s were 

inactive engine to prevent engine rotation — were all performance 

the Flying Tigers, which were flown in China by the American 

innovations that came to market in the 1930s. Military orders 

Volunteer Group. More than 13,700 P-40s were produced, and 

gradually returned, notably in 1934 for nine-cylinder engines, two 

they served in the air forces of 28 countries during World War II. 

mounted on each wing, to power the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 

and in 1937 for the Curtiss P-36 Hawk Fighter Plane.

Two other Curtiss-Wright planes played a vital role in World 

War II: the SB2C Helldiver and the Commando transport. The 

Helldiver aircraft carrier–based dive bomber was widely 

used in many of the major Pacific campaigns beginning 

in late 1943. The Commando became the workhorse of 
the airlift operation that flew supplies from India over 

“the Hump,” or Himalayan Mountains, to Allied troops 

in western China. 

Curtiss-Wright 2009 Annual Report    |    9

[Below left] Designed for making swift dives with heavy 
payloads, the SB2C Helldiver was particularly effective 
in World War II’s Pacific theater.

[Below right] Originally designed as a high-altitude 
civilian airliner, the Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando 
found new life as a military transport during World War 
II, which included dropping paratroopers in Europe. 

Postwar
Curtiss-Wright maintained an edge in propeller-driven reciprocating 

engines into the mid-1950s. The Korean War of 1950–1953 produced 

a jump in orders, but not nearly on the same scale as World War II. 

Curtiss-Wright’s R3350 engine, developed during World War II, and 

its performance-leading propellers were in demand in the commercial 

market to power the Douglass DC-7s and Lockheed Super Constellations 

during this period. The maiden flight of the Boeing 707 in 1954, 

however, ushered in a new era in aviation, which was powered by the 

jet engine technology still in use today. 

The changing dynamics in commercial aviation engendered a shift in 

corporate structure and a focus on diversification that, over time, led to 

the inception of the company’s Motion Control, Metal Treatment and 

Flow Control business segments.

10    |    20th Century

[Right] The U.S. Navy’s first nuclear-powered 
submarine — the USS Nautilus — featured innovative 
reactor coolant systems, power conversion devices 
and pump and valve flow control technologies that 
not only contributed to the Nautilus’ success but also 
furthered the development of nuclear-powered ships.

[Below] Curtiss-Wright’s embedded computing 
technology serves as the “brain” of the U.S. Air Force’s 
Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by 
managing the navigation and flight control functions 
in order to provide essential military intelligence 
without risking lives. 

[Facing page] In the 1960s, there were concerns 
about the susceptibility of stress corrosion cracking 
in the feet of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module. Metal 
Improvement Company helped develop an engineered 
solution to remove the residual tensile stresses by 
shot peening all of the internal and external areas of 
the Lunar Module’s four feet.

What ultimately became the Motion Control segment sustained the legacy aviation 

technologies, and some current technologies still trace their roots to the Wright brothers’ 

early wing-warping technology. Many Boeing commercial jets include Curtiss-Wright’s 

high-lift actuation technologies, as do numerous military fighter jets. As newer designs 

advanced to unmanned flight, Curtiss-Wright expanded its role from mechanical 

components to sophisticated electronics, including sensor and mission management 

systems that act as the “brain” operating an aerial reconnaissance vehicle like the Global 

Hawk. Flying at extremely high altitudes and staying airborne for 40 hours with a range 

of 14,000 miles, the Global Hawk surveys large areas with pinpoint accuracy, providing 

critical information to military decision-makers.

The genesis of the Flow Control business developed from the acquisition of Target Rock 

in 1961. Target Rock’s high-performance valves and specialized nuclear reactor plant 

equipment were utilized by the U.S. Navy beginning with its first nuclear-powered 

submarine, the USS Nautilus, and by electric utilities beginning with the nation’s first 

commercial nuclear power plant, the Shippingport Atomic Power Station. The build-up 

Curtiss-Wright 2009 Annual Report    |    11

Orville and Wilbur Wright and Glenn 
Curtiss were leaders in helping establish 
aviation industry standards and training to 
help guide aviation into the transportation 
mainstream. For example, Curtiss had 
established a pilot training school for 
U.S. Army and Navy personnel by the 
winter of 1910. Without their dedication to 
safety and reliability, the innovations and 
performance achieved would have never 
amounted to the air superiority of the U.S. 
military or the development of commercial 
aviation. Extreme aviation offshoots such as 
barnstorming will always have their place in 
history, but the intrinsic value of their legacy 
is the accessibility they provided through 
their holistic approach to the development 
of this industry. 

of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear powered fleet during the Cold War era, coupled with the 

construction of over 100 commercial nuclear power plants, provided an environment in 

which Curtiss-Wright’s innovative technologies continue to thrive today.

The Metal Treatment segment, the product of a strategic acquisition in 1968, provided an 

expansion that was linked to performance-driven technological innovation. Curtiss-Wright 
acquired the Metal Improvement Company, an industry leader in shot peening and 

peen forming aircraft wings since the 1950s. Initially, demand for their sophisticated 
metallurgical processes increased in proportion to aircraft speed and performance, which 

put even more stress on aircraft parts and structures, requiring an improvement in strength 

and durability. 

Looking to the 21st Century

By the late 1990s, Curtiss-Wright was being recognized for the value it was adding with 

its highly engineered critical systems for an increasingly broad array of commercial 

industries as well as the defense sector. The company’s diversified strategy was adding 

value to Curtiss-Wright’s bottom line as well. Its earnings were growing at well above the 

industry average. As the century was ending, Forbes magazine recognized Curtiss-Wright’s 

accomplishments when it named the company to its best small company list in 1998.

12    |    21st Century

21st Century:
Drive and Determination

Curtiss-Wright 2009 Annual Report    |    13

[Left] Curtiss-Wright’s specialized 
nuclear propulsion plant pumps, 
valves, generators, instrumentation 
and controls, and acoustic 
capabilities are at the heart of U.S. 
Navy nuclear-powered submarines. 

[Below] Standing more than 22 
feet tall, the reactor coolant pumps 
for the AP1000 nuclear power 
plant design are the largest canned 
motor pumps ever designed and 
manufactured by Curtiss-Wright. 
Each pump has the capacity to 
discharge enough water to fill an 
Olympic-sized swimming pool in 
less than nine minutes.

CuRtISS‑WRIGHt HaS INteNSIFIeD ItS eFFORtS  
during the past decade to pursue growth by focusing on operations and high-

performance end markets diversified across the core areas of defense, energy, 

commercial aerospace and general industry. At the end of 2009 — following 

a decade of selectively acquiring companies with technologically advanced, 

highly engineered products — company sales are diversified roughly one-third 

in defense, one-third in energy and one-third in commercial aerospace and 

industrial markets. The common thread woven through each market is a focus 

on advanced technologies that, in many instances, only Curtiss-Wright has the 

engineering expertise to design and manufacture.

envisioning Innovation, engineering Performance 

Flow Control

Curtiss-Wright has been supplying mission-critical components and systems 

to the U.S. Navy’s nuclear propulsion program for over 50 years. Our pumps, 

valves, generators, motors and control systems are aboard every nuclear-
powered submarine and aircraft carrier in the Navy’s fleet. Just as Glenn Curtiss 

was instrumental in the birth of naval aviation, Curtiss-Wright is extending that 

legacy today by providing advanced electro-magnetic launching and arresting 

systems for the CVN Ford Class next-generation aircraft carriers.

We design and manufacture major components that are key to the next 

generation of commercial nuclear power plants. We are currently developing the 

largest canned motor reactor coolant pumps ever designed and manufactured 

by Curtiss-Wright, which will be at the heart of the Westinghouse AP1000 

reactor, the first Generation III+ design. In addition, we provide technology-

differentiated products and services — from airlocks, electrical components, 

pumps and valves, to engineering, plant performance software, custom 

manufacturing, testing and qualification services.

14    |    21st Century

[Left] Real-time monitoring of systems and equipment 
provides critical information for more effective and 
safer operation of facilities. Curtiss-Wright’s Fleet Asset 
Management and Optimization Solutions (FAMOS) 
enable customers to reduce risk and avoid unplanned 
outages as well as capture lost megawatts and reduce 
greenhouse emissions. 

[Right] Curtiss-Wright created actuation systems to open 
and close the weapons bay doors of the F-22 Raptor 
in record speed, helping ensure the aircraft retains its 
stealth profile during missions.

Curtiss-Wright is applying significant engineering expertise 

any fighter jet for training purposes. In addition, our advanced 

and advanced technologies relative to withstanding harsh 

electronics and sensors have enabled significant upgrades to the 

environments, including extreme heat, abrasive chemical 

performance of military helicopters, including the Black Hawk, 

catalysts and high pressures, to address critical requirements 

Apache, Chinook and CH-53K.

in the oil and gas market. Our automated coke drum unheading 

valve is an example of the dramatic improvement Curtiss-Wright’s 

products are providing to operational performance and worker 

safety at refineries worldwide.

Motion Control

Continuing a legacy of performance in aviation, Curtiss-Wright 

provides innovative flight control and utility actuation systems 

On the ground, Curtiss-Wright provides sophisticated electronic 
upgrades and embedded computing products for the Bradley 

Fighting Vehicle, the Abrams Tank and the Stryker Mobile Gun 

System. Our turret aiming and stabilization systems and suspension 

systems are in service on many of the leading military ground 

vehicles used by NATO members, such as the Piranha, Pizarro and 

Puma Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles, to name a few. 

to support nearly every U.S. Air Force 

fighter aircraft program, as well as 

the latest in integrated electronics 

and embedded computing. The next-

generation F-22 Raptor employs 

unprecedented stealth technologies, 
including storing weapons internally 

rather than hanging from the wing, to 

fly virtually undetected by enemy radar. 
Curtiss-Wright’s actuation systems open 
and close the main and side weapons bay 

doors almost instantaneously, boosting 

mission effectiveness and pilot safety. 
Curtiss-Wright’s high-performance 
technologies can be found onboard nearly 

every military aircraft in development, 

including the F-35 Lightning II, the V-22 

Osprey and the P-8A Poseidon, as well as 

the Pilatus PC-21 turboprop trainer, which 

uses our embedded computing technology 

to modify the control panel to emulate 

Curtiss-Wright 2009 Annual Report    |    15

Curtiss-Wright’s industry-leading rugged embedded computing 
technology is meeting 21st century military requirements. A high-
performance, ruggedized radar processing subsystem from 

Commercial applications range from the stratosphere to the 

Formula 1 racetrack. Curtiss-Wright provides a variety of flight 

control systems, sensor management and data recording on every 

Curtiss-Wright helps enable the mobile Ground/Air Task Oriented 

commercial jet in production. These mission-critical systems 

Radar (G/ATOR) system to perform aircraft detection and tracking, 

ensure smooth take-off and landing, as well as monitoring of flight 

cruise-missile detection and tracking, ground weapon location 

operations. On helicopters, Curtiss-Wright’s rotor ice protection 

and air traffic control. Our central electronics chassis is integral 

system senses and removes icy build-up on rotor blades to enable 

to the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS), which 

safe flight during severe weather conditions. And on the racetrack, 

rapidly detects and locates surface and near-surface moored 

highly customized sensors provide Formula 1 racecars with 

mines so they can be neutralized before damaging military and 

superior steering, suspension, gearbox and accelerator controls.

commercial ships. And our innovative step frequency antenna and 

GeoScope Ground Penetrating Radar processing generates high-

resolution three-dimensional images of buried objects, which is 

critical for the identification of unexploded ordnance. 

[Left] Curtiss-Wright’s digital fire-control 
computer on the U.S. Army’s M1A2 Abrams 
main battle tank stabilizes the tank’s turret 
for target accuracy while traveling over rough 
terrain. This technology enables gunners to “fire 
on the fly” rather than requiring the tank to 
“stop, drop and shoot.”

[Right] To address the threat posed to service 
personnel and civilians in overseas operations 
by buried unexploded ordnance, Curtiss-Wright 
provides the U.S. Army with innovative step 
frequency antenna and GeoScope Ground 
Penetrating Radar (GPR) processing solutions.

16    |    21st Century

Metal Treatment

Laser peening takes the centuries old metal peening concept to a new 

level of performance. Instead of using metal, ceramic or glass shot, the 

peening is accomplished with bursts of laser energy precisely directed 

at specific portions of a component. The laser beam directs a brief 

pulse of energy, equivalent in power to the instantaneous output of a 

nuclear power plant, at the component. Shock waves created by the 

laser beam compress the metal surface, strengthening its resistance 

to cracking and corrosion. This proprietary laser technology has just 

begun to set performance standards in the commercial market. For 

example, laser peening is used to form the complex curvatures of wing 

sections on Boeing’s new 747-8, which will help achieve the improved 

aerodynamics of this aircraft design. 

To expand our portfolio of sophisticated metallurgical processes, 

Curtiss-Wright is pioneering solid film lubricant (SFL) coating 

technology. Used across industry sectors, these coatings protect 
components against adverse operating conditions such as high 

temperatures, extreme loads, corrosion, wear, friction and abrasion. 

The company also specializes in applying parylene coatings to 

medical devices, including rubber/silicone seals and wire-forming 

mandrels used in the manufacture of catheters, as well as for niche 

electronic, oil and gas, and general industrial parts. 

[Right] Curtiss-Wright provides laser peening 
services on the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 turbine 
engine, which is a power plant for the Boeing 
787 aircraft. 

[Below] A 100-foot-long lower wing skin for the 
A380 aircraft being readied for shot peening. 
Curtiss-Wright shot peen forms all the wing skins 
on Airbus commercial aircraft.

Curtiss-Wright 2009 Annual Report    |    17

Partnerships 
The development of long-term relationships with 

our customers is a critical part of our business 

mission. We serve a broad spectrum of customers, 

helping them to develop innovative solutions 

to difficult challenges. It is common for us to 

become involved in the concept, design and 

development stages of our customers’ products. 

Leveraging the engineering expertise and 

rigorous requirements of military and nuclear 

markets to critical applications in the oil and 
gas market, Curtiss-Wright is expanding its 
technological leadership in new markets, such 

as deep-sea oil recovery. In partnership with 

Petrobras, Brazil’s international energy company, 

and Leistritz Corporation, a manufacturer of 
specialized displacement pumps, Curtiss-Wright 
is developing a state-of-the-art, submerged, 

canned electric motor and multiphase pumping 

system for deep-sea oil recovery. And through 
a joint venture, Curtiss-Wright is combining its 
expertise in rugged, highly reliable, hermetically 

sealed motors and power distribution and control 

products with Cameron International’s long-

standing leadership in subsea capabilities to 

market and supply subsea multiphase pumping 

systems to the global deepwater oil industry. 

The development of next-generation carrier 

launching and capture systems for aircraft is 

an example of a number of suppliers working 

in partnership to provide the most innovative 
system. Curtiss-Wright’s expertise in electric 

motors and permanent magnets is integral to the 

development of the Advanced Arresting Gear 

(AAG) through energy absorption for the tailhook 

cables and the Electro-Magnetic Aircraft Launch 

System (EMALS) energy storage rotors. 

[Above right] The energy-absorber electric 
motor Curtiss-Wright is supplying for the 
Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system rapidly 
transfers kinetic energy out of an aircraft to 
bring it to a stop on the carrier deck, with 
the electric motor absorbing the powerful 
kinetic energy. The motor will also control the 
arresting cable tension to avoid unwanted force 
on the aircraft.

[Right] Curtiss-Wright’s state-of-the-art subsea 
pumping system — developed in conjunction 
with industry leaders Petrobras and Cameron 
International — will significantly speed 
the rate of oil production while reducing 
maintenance and the associated costs due to its 
canned pump technology.

18    |    21st Century

Intrinsic value
For our shareholders and employees, 

Curtiss-Wright’s diversification over the 

past decade has added significantly to the 

company’s intrinsic value, fueling balanced, 

profitable growth. The company’s strategy 

is to focus on highly engineered products 

serving mission-critical markets so that we 

best employ our expertise in performance 

innovation and superior reliability. While 

investments in organic product and 

service innovations drive growth, strategic 

acquisitions improve our ability to expand 

in the markets we serve and position us for 

strong forward growth.

To support our customers, during the past 

decade we acquired nearly 50 businesses. 

These acquisitions have enabled us to 

diversify our portfolio into other high-

performance market applications, such 

as commercial nuclear power and oil and 

The P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft is a long-
range surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft being developed 
by The Boeing Company for the U.S. Navy. Curtiss-Wright is 
supplying specialized actuators for the weapons bay door drive 
system, which opens and closes large doors installed on the 
bottom of the aircraft.

Curtiss-Wright’s portfolio of nuclear 
technologies positions the company as a 
leading authority and supplier of critical 
technologies needed to maintain the 
efficient, safe operation of commercial 
nuclear power plants around the world. 

The uncertain long-term storage solution 
for spent nuclear fuel poses a distinct 
challenge to operators of the 104 
U.S. nuclear power plants. Currently, 
operators must store spent fuel on-site 
in above-ground dry storage casks or 
submerged in spent fuel pools.

To help meet this challenge, we enhanced 
our spent fuel management solutions 
through the acquisition of Northeast 
Technology Corporation (NETCO). 

NETCO is a recognized expert in 
neutron-absorber materials and provides 
unique spent fuel pool products, services 
and analysis. Its Snap-In™ insert is 
a patented neutron-absorber product 
that extends the life of spent fuel pools 
and addresses regulatory requirements 
related to the safe operation of nuclear 
power plants. 

We provide product and service solutions 
that address the degradation of neutron-
absorbing materials in spent nuclear fuel 

storage racks in addition to numerous 
analytical services related to nuclear fuel 
and storage. As a leader in the design 
analysis of spent fuel racks, Curtiss-Wright 
provides criticality, thermal and shielding 
analysis in addition to plant safety, reactor 
physics, fuel management and licensing 
support. We also supply a variety of 
software products used to determine the 
validity of the neutron absorbers in spent 
fuel pools and aid utilities in loading spent 
fuel storage casks.

Spent fuel management is a fast growing 
market, and Curtiss-Wright is well 
positioned to aggressively pursue this 
growth opportunity with ready-for-market 
products and a strong platform for the 
development of new, highly engineered 
technologies aimed at delivering 
profound value to our customers in the 
global nuclear power market.

Curtiss-Wright 2009 Annual Report    |    19

gas; expanded our reach in the defense market from aviation into ground platforms; and 

enhanced our technology portfolio from primarily mechanical to include electro-mechanical 

and electronic products and systems. Evolving from a customized component supplier to 

an integrated system supplier provides value to our customers, who demand reliability and 

performance. For instance, with the acquisition of DeltaValve, followed by that of Valve 

Systems and Controls, we are able to offer a total system solution to the delayed coking 

market that is revolutionary in its performance and automation.

Looking Ahead

Curtiss-Wright has changed dramatically over the past 80 years, and no doubt we will do so 

again over the next 80 years. We are confident that we are well positioned in our major markets 

to deliver superior products and services to our customers, and we are committed to the 

evolution of our technologies over time to better meet the needs of our customers. Diversity, 

commitment to excellence and dedication to the spirit of pioneering innovation will continue to 

spur the employees of Curtiss-Wright to soar to new heights. 

[Above] The success of Curtiss-Wright products 
for the delayed coking process has stimulated 
demand for other technological advances, 
including our controls and automation systems, 
that manage coker operations and safety 
interlocks to provide remote control of the coking 
process. These integrated solutions optimize 
operations and enhance safety for our customers.

[Below] Curtiss-Wright is producing reactor 
coolant pumps for the first AP1000 nuclear 
plants to be built. Construction is well 
underway at two sites in Haiyang and Sanmen, 
China, and the first plant is on schedule to 
begin operating in 2016.

20    |    Segment Information

Segment Information

Flow Control
The Flow Control segment specializes in the design and manufacture 

of highly engineered valves, pumps, motors, generators, electronics, 

systems and related products that regulate the flow of liquids, gases 

and vapors in severe service environments. Divisions include:

Electro-Mechanical Systems
High-performance pumps, motors, generators, power conditioning electronics, 

electronic control integration and protection solutions for defense, power generation, 

oil and gas, and general industrial markets.

Commercial Power Services 
Design, manufacture, distribution and qualification of critical components and related 

services for new build and operating commercial nuclear power plants, fossil-fuel 

power plants, hydroelectric energy producers and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Oil & Gas Systems
Design and manufacture of valves, vessel products, valve automation and control 

systems, coke unheading systems and fluidic catalytic cracking unit components for 

the oil and gas refining market.

Valve Systems
Specialized valve solutions and web-enabled software that control the flow of liquids 

and gases and prevent over-pressurization of vessels, pipelines and equipment 

for defense, power generation, process and general industrial markets; shipboard 

helicopter handling systems for military applications.

Control Systems
Electronic instrumentation and control equipment, including custom and commercial-

off-the-shelf electronic circuit boards and systems for defense and processing markets.

Sales by Market

Naval Defense   26%

Other Government   4%

Oil & Gas   26%

Power Generation   34%

General Industrial   9%

Curtiss-Wright 2009 Annual Report    |    21

Motion Control 
The Motion Control segment integrates complex elements for use in flight 

control, actuation, sensing and electronic computing system applications. 

Divisions include:

Sales by Market

Embedded Computing
Ruggedized custom and commercial-off-the-shelf electronic boards and subsystems for high-

density data processing as well as custom software design and hardware manufacturing for 

aerospace, ground and naval defense markets.

Engineered Systems
Flight control actuation components and systems; weapons handling systems; utility actuation; 

military vehicle turret aiming and stabilization; suspension systems for military vehicles and 

high-speed trains; rotary sensors; pilot controls for defense, commercial and industrial markets.

Integrated Sensing
Position, pressure and temperature sensors; smoke and ice detection sensors; solenoids and 

solenoid valves; air data computers; flight data recorders; joysticks for defense aerospace, 

commercial aerospace and industrial markets.

Aerospace Defense   35%

Ground Defense   26%

Naval Defense   6%
Other Government   3%

Commercial Aerospace   22%

General Industrial   8%

Metal treatment
The Metal Treatment segment performs metal finishing services that 

enhance the performance and extend the life of critical components utilized 

in aerospace, automotive/transportation, power generation and general 

industrial markets. The four surface treatment technologies include:

Sales by Market

Defense   14%

Shot Peening
Round metallic or ceramic balls are directed at a metal component in a controlled 

manner to impart a beneficial compressive stress layer on the surface that improves 

Commercial Aerospace   41%

the fatigue resistance and durability of the part. Shot peening is also used to shape the 
complex aerodynamic curvatures of the wing skins of commercial and business aircraft.

Laser Peening
A high-energy laser beam generates shock waves at the surface of a part to impart a 

layer of beneficial compressive stress that is four times deeper than can be achieved by 

traditional metal treatment processes.

Specialty Coatings
Solid film lubricant and zinc-rich coating services provide sliding wear, anti-seizing 

and corrosion resistance in automotive/transportation, commercial aerospace and 

defense applications. Parylene coating services provide lubricity, moisture barrier 

resistance and biocompatibility in medical device and electronic applications.

Thermal Treatment
Air, inert gas and vacuum furnaces are used to expose metal parts to controlled 

time and temperature cycles to improve their overall strength, ductility and other 

mechanical properties. 

Oil & Gas   4%
Power Generation   6%

General Industrial   35%

 
22    |    Segment Information

Segment Financial Information

Twelve months ended December 31, (In millions; unaudited)

2009

2008

Change

Sales

Flow Control

Motion Control

Metal Treatment

total Sales

Operating Income
Flow Control

Motion Control

Metal Treatment

total Segments

Corporate and Other

total Operating Income

Operating Margins

Flow Control

Motion Control

Metal Treatment

total Segments

Consolidated Margin

$985.2

621.0

203.5

$971.7

594.4

264.0

$1,809.7

$1,830.1

92.7

80.9

19.9

193.6

(24.2)

$169.3

9.4%

13.0%

9.8%

10.7%

9.4%

102.4

60.4

52.1

214.9

(18.3)

$196.6

10.5%

10.2%

19.7%

11.7%

10.7%

1.4%

4.5%

(22.9%)

(1.1%)

(9.4%)

34.1%

(61.9%)

(9.9%)

32.2%

(13.9%)

(110) bps

280  bps

(990) bps

(100) bps

(130) bps

Note: 2008 segment financial data has been reclassified to conform with our 2009 financial statement presentation. In addition, amounts may not add to the 
total due to rounding.

Curtiss-Wright 2009 Annual Report    |    23

Historical Financial Performance

Five-Year Review

For the years ended December 31, (In millions, except per share data; unaudited)

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Performance
Net sales

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization

Net earnings

Cash flow from operations

Earnings per share(1)

Basic

Diluted

Dividends per share(1)

Return on sales

Return on invested capital(2)

New orders

Backlog at year end

Year‑end financial position
Working capital

Current ratio

Total assets

Total debt

Stockholders’ equity

Stockholders’ equity per share (1)

Other year‑end data
Free cash flow (3)

Depreciation and amortization

Capital expenditures

Shares of stock outstanding at December 31, (1) (4)

Number of registered shareholders

Number of employees

Note: Amounts may not add to the total due to rounding.

$1,809.7 

$1,830.1 

$1,592.1 

$1,282.2 

$1,130.9 

246.8 

95.2 

196.6 

$2.10 

2.08 

0.32 

5.3%

8.1%

272.4 

109.4 

179.8 

$2.45 

 2.41 

0.32 

6.0%

9.5%

244.3 

104.3 

139.1 

191.3 

80.6 

143.9 

186.1 

75.3 

105.2 

$2.35 

$1.84 

$1.74 

2.32 

0.28 

6.6%

10.3%

1.82 

0.24 

6.3%

9.9%

1.72 

0.20 

6.7%

9.6%

$1,730.5 

$2,232.1 

$1,870.4 

$1,333.0 

$1,261.2 

$1,626.9 

$1,679.2 

$1,303.8 

$875.5 

$805.6 

$313.2 

$350.0 

$359.6 

$330.5 

$269.0 

1.6 to 1

1.8 to 1

1.9 to 1

2.1 to 1

2.2 to 1

$2,142.0 

$2,042.0 

$1,985.6 

$1,592.2 

$1,400.3 

$465.1 

$1,026.8 

$22.50 

$516.7 

$866.8 

$19.23 

$511.9 

$914.8 

$20.51 

$364.9 

$762.1 

$17.31 

$364.9 

$638.2 

$14.68 

$120.9

$76.5 

$75.6 

45,624 

5,797 

7,572 

$76.2

$74.3 

$103.7 

45,065 

6,193 

7,968 

$84.7

$62.7 

$54.4 

$103.7

$50.8 

$40.2 

$62.7

$47.9 

$42.4 

44,593 

44,023 

43,492 

6,331 

7,471 

6,762 

6,233 

7,069 

5,892

(1)  Per share data for all years have been adjusted to reflect a 2-for-1 stock split on April 21, 2006, and December 17, 2003. CW Class B shares, which were 

converted to CW common shares in May 2005, have the same split and dividend history as the CW common shares. 

(2) Return on invested capital is net operating profit after tax over average net debt plus equity.

(3) Free cash flow is defined as net cash flow provided by operating activities less capital expenditures.

(4) In 2001, CW issued Class B Common Stock, which was converted to Common Stock in 2005.

Stock Price Range

Dividends per Share

Common

2009

2008

Common

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

High

low

High

Low

First quarter

$36.06

$22.62

$50.16

$37.65

Second quarter

33.20

36.67

35.20

27.33

27.52

27.97

52.96

56.07

45.37

41.30

41.62

24.80

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

 2009

$0.08

0.08

0.08

0.08

2008

$0.08

0.08

0.08

0.08

 
24    |    Consolidated Financials

Report of Independent Registered  
Public accounting Firm

to the Board of Directors and  
Shareholders of Curtiss‑Wright Corporation

Parsippany, New Jersey

We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of 

Curtiss-Wright Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) 
as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated 

statements of earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for 

each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009. 

Such consolidated financial statements and our report thereon 

dated February 23, 2010, expressing an unqualified opinion 
(which are not included herein) appear under Item 8 of the 

Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended 

December 31, 2009. The accompanying condensed consolidated 

financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s 

management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on such 

condensed consolidated financial statements in relation to the 

complete consolidated financial statements. 

In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying 

condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2009 

and 2008, and the related condensed consolidated statements 

of earnings and of cash flows for each of the three years in the 

period ended December 31, 2009, is fairly stated in all material 

respects in relation to the consolidated financial statements from 

which it has been derived. 

Parsippany, New Jersey 

February 23, 2010

Condensed Consolidated Statements of earnings

Curtiss-Wright 2009 Annual Report    |    25

For the years ended December 31, (In thousands, except share and per share data)

2009

2008

2007

Net sales

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Research and development costs

Selling expenses

General and administrative expenses

Operating income

Interest expense

Other income

earnings before income taxes

Provision for income taxes

Net earnings

Net earnings per share:

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Weighted average shares outstanding:

Basic

Diluted

$1,809,690

$1,830,140

$1,592,124

(1,214,159)

(1,214,061)

(1,068,500)

595,531

(54,645)

(106,187)

(265,380)

169,319

(25,066)

1,006

145,259

(50,038)

$95,221

$2.10

$2.08

45,237

45,695

616,079

(49,615)

(107,308)

(262,594)

196,562

(29,045)

1,585

169,102

(59,712)

523,624

(47,929)

(92,129)

(204,382)

179,184

(27,382)

2,369

154,171

(49,843)

$109,390

$104,328

$2.45

$2.41

44,716 

45,374

$2.35

$2.32

44,313

44,979

26    |    Consolidated Financials

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

At December 31, (In thousands, except share data)

2009

2008

assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Receivables, net

Inventories, net

Deferred tax assets, net

Other current assets

Total current assets

Property, plant and equipment, net

Goodwill

Other intangible assets, net

Deferred tax assets, net

Other assets

Total assets

liabilities

Current liabilities

Current portion of long-term debt and short-term debt

Accounts payable

Accrued expenses

Income taxes payable

Deferred revenue

Other current liabilities

Total current liabilities

long‑term debt

Deferred tax liabilities, net

accrued pension and other postretirement benefit costs

long‑term portion of environmental reserves

Other liabilities

Total liabilities

Contingencies and Commitments

Stockholders’ equity

$65,010

404,539

285,608

48,777

33,567

837,501

401,149

648,452

242,506

1,994

10,439

$60,705

395,659

281,508

37,314

26,833

802,019

364,032

608,898

234,596

23,128

9,357

$2,142,041

$2,042,030

$80,981

129,880

90,855

4,212

167,683

50,708

524,319

384,112

25,549

120,930

18,804

41,570

$3,249

140,954

103,973

8,213

138,753

56,542

451,684

513,460

26,850

125,762

20,377

37,135

1,115,284

1,175,268

Com mon stock, $1 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2009 and 2008; 

48,214

47,903

48,213,472 and 47,903,187 shares issued at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively; 

outstanding shares were 45,624,179 at December 31, 2009 and 45,064,839 at December 31, 2008 

additional paid‑in capital

Retained earnings

accumulated other comprehensive loss

111,707

980,590

(19,605)

1,120,906

94,500

899,928

(72,551)

969,780

Less:  Common treasury stock, at cost (2,589,293 shares at December 31, 2009, and 2,838,348 shares 

(94,149)

(103,018)

at December 31, 2008)

Total stockholders’ equity

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

1,026,757

866,762

$2,142,041

$2,042,030

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the years ended December 31, (In thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities

Net earnings

adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

Net loss on sales and disposals of long-lived assets

Gain on bargain purchase 

Deferred income taxes

Share-based compensation

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of businesses acquired and disposed of:

Decrease (increase) in receivables

Decrease (increase) in inventories

(Decrease) increase in progress payments

(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses

Increase in deferred revenue

Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable

(Decrease) increase in net pension and postretirement liabilities

Decrease (increase) in other current and long-term assets

(Decrease) increase in other current and long-term liabilities

Total adjustments

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Proceeds from sales and disposals of long‑lived assets

acquisitions of intangible assets

additions to property, plant and equipment

acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired

Net cash used for investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Borrowings of debt

Principal payments on debt

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

Dividends paid

excess tax benefits from share‑based compensation

Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities

effect of exchange‑rate changes on cash

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

Supplemental disclosure of investing activities

Fair value of assets acquired from acquisitions

Curtiss-Wright 2009 Annual Report    |    27

2009

2008

2007

$95,221

$109,390

$104,328

76,480

1,917

(1,937)

(6,470)

15,264

9,250

17,819

(8,573)

(30,565)

28,724

(11,326)

19,654

2,319

(11,198)

101,358

196,579

74,251

62,699

804

–

(6,370)

13,663

(20,230)

(46,564)

8,227

8,582

33,332

(4,044)

11,416

2,250

(4,886)

70,431

388

–

(8,144)

10,912

(63,998)

(50,290)

(2,274)

31,078

53,065

(6,020)

5,540

(2,668)

4,520

34,808

179,821

139,136

3,789

(673)

8,143

(311)

174

(3,722)

(75,643)

(103,657)

(54,433)

(68,623)

(48,557)

(289,348)

(141,150)

(144,382)

(347,329)

711,059

598,000

751,500

(762,759)

(622,580)

(604,560)

10,557

9,905

9,661

(14,559)

(14,381)

(12,440)

378

1,544

2,590

(55,324)

(27,512)

146,751

4,200

4,305

(13,742)

3,445

(5,815)

(57,997)

60,705

66,520

$65,010

$60,705

124,517

$66,520

$81,103

$133,159

$315,842

Additional consideration paid (received) on prior year acquisitions

1,835

(1,447)

9,433

Liabilities assumed from current year acquisitions

Cash acquired

Gain on bargain purchase 

Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired

(12,102)

(75,156)

(35,706)

(276)

(1,937)

(7,999)

–

(221)

–

$68,623

$48,557

$289,348

28    |    Company Information

Company Information

Directors

Martin R. Benante
Chairman of the Board of Directors

S. Marce Fuller
Former President and  
Chief Executive Officer of  
Mirant Corporation, Inc. (formerly  
known as Southern Energy, Inc.)  
Director, Earthlink, Inc.

Dr. allen a. Kozinski 
Former Vice President of Global  
Refining of British Petroleum PLC

Carl G. Miller
Former Chief Financial Officer  
of TRW, Inc.

William B. Mitchell
Trustee, Mitre Corporation 
Former Vice Chairman of Texas 
Instruments Inc.

John R. Myers
Former Chairman and  
Chief Executive Officer of  
Tru-Circle Corporation 
Management Consultant 
Former Chairman of the Board of  
Garrett Aviation Services

John B. Nathman
Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Dr. William W. Sihler
Ronald E. Trzcinski Professor of  
Business Administration, 
Darden Graduate School of Business 
Administration, University of Virginia

albert e. Smith
Director, Tetra Tech, Inc.  
Former Executive Vice President and 
Officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation

Officers

Martin R. Benante
Chief Executive Officer

David C. adams
Co-Chief Operating Officer

David J. linton
Co-Chief Operating Officer

Glenn e. tynan
Vice President and  
Chief Financial Officer

Michael J. Denton
Vice President, 
General Counsel and  
Corporate Secretary

Harry Jakubowitz
Vice President and  
Treasurer

Glenn Coleman
Vice President and  
Corporate Controller

On August 22, 1929, Curtiss-Wright 

Corporation joined the New York Stock 

Exchange. Eighty years later, as one of 

fewer than 20 companies still trading 

under its original listing, Curtiss-Wright 

commemorated the achievement by 
ringing The Closing Bell® at the Exchange 
in 2009.

From left: NYSE Representative; Glenn 
Tynan, Chief Financial Officer; David Linton, 
Co-Chief Operating Officer; Martin Benante, 
Chairman & CEO; Dave Adams, Co-Chief 
Operating Officer; Alexandra Deignan, 
Director, Investor Relations; and Tom Quinly, 
President, Curtiss-Wright Controls.

Aircraft Carriers

Submarines

Shareholder Information

Electro-Mechanical 
Systems

Commercial Power 
Services

Surface Ships

Commercial Nuclear  
Power Generation

Hydroelectric 
Power Generation

Processing/Refining

Flow Control

Oil & Gas Systems

Control Systems

Valve Systems

Fossil-Fired 
Power Generation

General 
Industrial

Engineered Systems

Integrated Sensing

Commercial  
Aerospace

Ground Defense

Auto Racing

Military Aerospace

Municipal Vehicles

Commercial Ships

Motion Control

Embedded Computing

Helicopters

High-Speed Trains

Recording Studios

Shot Peening

Laser Peening

Automotive

Farm Vehicle 
Equipment

Fossil-Fired  
Power Generation

Commercial 
Aerospace

Off-Road/Construction 
Equipment

Commercial Nuclear 
Power Generation

Metal Treatment

Specialty Coatings

Thermal Treatment

Oil & Gas

General 
Industrial

Architectural

Corporate Headquarters

10 Waterview Boulevard, 2nd Floor 

Parsippany, New Jersey  07054  

www.curtisswright.com 

Tel: (973) 541-3700

Annual Meeting

Stock Transfer Agent  
and Registrar

For services such as changes of address, 

replacement of lost certificates or 

dividend checks, and changes in 

registered ownership, or for inquiries 

as to account status, write to American 

The 2010 annual meeting of stockholders 

Stock Transfer & Trust Company at 

Investor Information

Investors, stockbrokers, security analysts 

and others seeking information about 

Curtiss-Wright Corporation should contact 

Alexandra M. Deignan, Director of Investor 

Relations, at the Corporate Headquarters.

Shareholder Communications

will be held on May 7, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., 

59 Maiden Lane, New York, New York 

Any interested party wishing to 

at the Parsippany Sheraton Hotel, 199 

10038. Please include your name, 

communicate directly with our Board of 

Smith Road, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054.

address and telephone number with all 

Directors should write to Dr. William W. 

Stock Exchange Listing

correspondence. Telephone inquiries  

Sihler at Southeastern Consultants Group, 

may be made to (800) 937-5449 or  

LTD, P.O. Box 5645, Charlottesville, 

The Corporation’s common stock is 

(212) 936-5100 internationally.  

Virginia 22905.

listed and traded on the New York Stock 

Internet inquiries should be directed to 

Exchange under the symbol CW.

www.amstock.com. Hearing-impaired 

Financial Reports

Common Shareholders

As of December 31, 2009, the approximate 

number of holders of record of common 

stock, par value of $1.00 per share of the 

Corporation, was 5,797.

Forward-Looking Statements

This brochure contains not only historical 

information, but also forward-looking 

statements regarding expectations of future 

performance of the Corporation. Forward-

looking statements involve risk and 

uncertainty. Please refer to the Corporation’s 

2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a 
discussion relating to forward-looking 

statements contained in this brochure and 

risk factors that could cause future results 

to differ from current expectations.

shareholders are invited to log on to the 

This brochure includes some of the 

website and select the Live Chat option.

periodic financial information required 

Direct Stock Purchase Plan/
Dividend Reinvestment Plan

A plan is available to purchase or sell 

shares of Curtiss-Wright common stock. 

The plan provides a low-cost alternative 

to the traditional methods of buying, 

holding and selling stock. The plan also 

provides for the automatic reinvestment 

of Curtiss-Wright dividends. For more 

information, contact our transfer agent, 

American Stock Transfer & Trust 

Company, toll-free at (877) 854-0844.

to be on file with the Securities and 

Exchange Commission. The Corporation 

also files an Annual Report on Form 

10-K, a copy of which may be obtained 

free of charge. These reports, as well as 

additional financial documents such as 

proxy statements and quarterly reports on 

Form 10-Q, may be obtained by written 

request to Alexandra M. Deignan, Director 

of Investor Relations, at the Corporate 

Headquarters, or at the Corporation’s 

website, www.curtisswright.com.

Design: Eisenman Associates        
Photos courtesy of: The Boeing Company; General Dynamics Electric Boat; General Dynamics Land Systems, 
Inc.; Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, Hammondsport, NY; Library of Congress; Naval History and Heritage 
Command; NASA; Rolls-Royce plc; and Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University

Soaring to New Heights
For 80 years and counting

10 Waterview Boulevard, Parsippany, New Jersey  07054
www.curtisswright.com

80 Years of Achievement

Eighty years ago, Curtiss-Wright was formed by the merger of companies 

created  by  Glenn  Curtiss  and  the  Wright  brothers  —  pioneers  who 

soared  to  new  heights  of  human  achievement  that  ushered  in  the 

era  of  aviation.  Considered  by  many  to  be  the  single  most  important 

invention of the 20th century, manned flight forever altered the way in 

which humans interact globally, breaking down cultural barriers and 

integrating business markets. The innovative and trailblazing spirit of 

these founders made history, and today Curtiss-Wright is still leading 

through innovation. 

The world has changed dramatically over the ensuing decades and so 

has Curtiss-Wright. Yet the founders’ drive and determination is echoed 

by Curtiss-Wright’s current employees and is best captured through the 

lenses of performance, partnership and intrinsic value. 

2009 Annual Report