Whittle: The Jet Pioneer

A documentary on Sir Frank Whittle’s life. Whittle became an apprentice in the Royal Air Force College as a pilot officer after two failed attempts to get in.

Whittle became interested in aircraft propulsion and received his first patent on a jet engine in 1930. While working on an advanced degree at Cambridge University in 1932 he continued to work on turbine power plants.

By 1936 his designs were ready for prototype production and he patented the concept for the by-pass jet engine. Whittle is known for his amazing achievements in the fields of jet propulsion and aircraft development.