Early 1900s

• Wilbur and Orville Wright’s powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. (Predates Champion’s entry into the aviation industry by only a short time.)
• Champion Spark Plug Co. formed.
• Introduced automotive spark plugs into single ignition systems (adapted automobile engines) for small planes.

1917

• Champion plugs used in liquid-cooled V-8 engine of Curtiss "Jenny", chief U.S. training plane in WWI

1920s - 1930s

• Began development of spark plugs specifically for aviation industry.
• Champion Aero-1 plugs sparked world’s speed record (318 mph) and world’s altitude record (38,793)
• Champion spark plugs helped power Aeronca Dowager, first successful U.S. light plane.
• Created Aero RA, a low-profile spark plug with radio dome shield.
• Expanded facilities for ceramic research.
• Pioneered the C-26 spark plug.
• Developed industry’s first aluminum oxide insulator.

1940s - 1960s

• Produced approximately 500,000 aviation spark plugs annually.
• Converted manufacturing capabilities and production knowledge of aviation spark plugs for U.S. fighter planes and tanks.
• Produced 24 million spark plugs annually.
• Became principal aircraft spark plug supplier to U.S. military services, as well as a supplier to Allied Forces. Between 1941 and 1945, produced in total more than 78 million ceramic aircraft plugs for war effort.
• Refined massive electrode, stable heat rating, zinc-plated shell, new electrode alloys, and new cementing techniques.
• Developed all-weather shielding barrel for aircraft spark plugs.
• Used igniter assembly core in first U.S. jet aircraft engine.
• Pioneered automated plasma assembly techniques.
• Pioneered laser beam welding technology in production of iridium electrodes.
• Pioneered inspection and CNC-directed manufacturing.
• Developed first annular gap for high-tension igniters.
• Developed first successful recessed center electrode.
• Developed first welded right-angle igniter assembly.
• Introduced nuclear-hardened exciter for government applications.
• Pioneered developments in lead terminations that resulted in better sealing in turbine engine leads.
• Helped power Rare Bear Racing Team, first to break world speed record (500 mph) at low altitude on three kilometer course.
• Champion turbine igniter in second stage oxygen-hydrogen engine in Saturn C-1 rocket helps launch U.S. space program.

1970s - 1980s

• Introduced first spin-on oil filter for recip engines.
• Acquired Livingston Industries, highly respected supplier of leads and exciters to OEM market.
• Opened 145,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Liberty, South Carolina.
• Introduced one of industry’s first 100 percent solid-state discharge exciters.
• Moved division headquarters from Toledo, Ohio, to Greenville, South Carolina.

1990s - 2000s

• Completed $10 million expansion at Liberty, South Carolina, manufacturing facility.
• Became sole supplier to Rolls Royce and SNECMA for Olympus engine (Concorde).
• Vertically integrated Liberty, South Carolina, manufacturing facility. Earned ISO 9001 certification from DNV.
• Pioneered use of exotic materials in igniters to extend product life.
• Pioneered routine use of alumina oxide insulators in aircraft spark plugs.
• Introduced Series 21™, first turbine igniter and lead used across multiple engine platforms.
• Introduced PPT-Powered™ dual-redundant exciters, the new standard in solid-state exciter.