Frank Whittle
| Sir Frank Whittle | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
1 June 1907 Earlsdon, Coventry, England |
| Died |
9 August 1996 (aged 89) Columbia, Maryland, United States |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1923–1948 |
| Rank | Air Commodore |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Commander of the Legion of Merit (1946) CB (1947) KBE (1948) Rumford Medal (1950) Louis E. Levy Medal (1956) Order of Merit (1986) Fellow of the Royal Society (1986) Honorary Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (1986) Charles Stark Draper Prize (1991) |
| Spouse(s) | Dorothy Lee (1930–1976) Hazel Hall |
| Other work | BOAC technical advisor, Shell engineer, engineer for Bristol Aero Engines, NAVAIR Professor at the US Naval Academy |
Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle OM KBE CB FRS FRAeS (1 June 1907 – 9 August 1996) was an English Royal Air Force (RAF) engineer air officer. He is credited with single-handedly inventing the turbojet engine. A patent was submitted by Maxime Guillaume in 1921 for a similar invention; however, this was technically unfeasible at the time. Whittle's jet engines were developed some years earlier than those of Germany's Hans von Ohain who was the designer of the first operational turbojet engine.
From an early age, Whittle demonstrated an aptitude for engineering and an interest in flying. At first he was turned down by the RAF but, determined to join the Royal Air Force, he overcame his physical limitations and was accepted and sent to No. 2 School of Technical Training to join No 1 Squadron of Cranwell Aircraft Apprentices. He was taught the theory of aircraft engines and gained practical experience in the engineering workshops. His academic and practical abilities as an Aircraft Apprentice earned him a place on the officer training course at Cranwell. He excelled in his studies and became an accomplished pilot. While writing his thesis there he formulated the fundamental concepts that led to the creation of the turbojet engine, taking out a patent on his design in 1930. His performance on an officers' engineering course earned him a place on a further course at Peterhouse, Cambridge where he graduated with a First.
Without Air Ministry support, he and two retired RAF servicemen formed Power Jets Ltd to build his engine with assistance from the firm of British Thomson-Houston. Despite limited funding, a prototype was created, which first ran in 1937. Official interest was forthcoming following this success, with contracts being placed to develop further engines, but the continuing stress seriously affected Whittle's health, eventually resulting in a nervous breakdown in 1940. In 1944 when Power Jets was nationalised he again suffered a nervous breakdown, and resigned from the board in 1946.
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