The patent for a turbojet engine filed by Frank Whittle in 1930 fundamentally altered the trajectory of aerospace engineering. Despite initial indifference from the Air Ministry, the Coventry-born engineer transitioned from a determined Royal Air Force apprentice to a pioneering inventor, eventually securing the propulsion technology that would redefine flight speed and altitude capabilities for the modern military and commercial era.
Military Career and Technical Education
Whittle joined the Royal Air Force in 1923, eventually training at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell between 1923 and 1928. His early aptitude for mechanics was refined through rigorous workshop experience and officer training. After excelling as a pilot, he pursued advanced studies at Peterhouse, graduating with a First. This academic foundation, combined with his hands-on experience, allowed him to translate theoretical concepts regarding high-altitude, high-speed flight into a viable mechanical design.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Developing the Turbojet Prototype
Lacking formal support from official channels, Whittle co-founded Power Jets Ltd alongside two retired RAF servicemen. With technical assistance from British Thomson-Houston, the group engineered a prototype that successfully operated for the first time in 1937. While this achievement finally prompted contracts for further development, the intense pressure of the project exacted a significant toll on his health, contributing to a nervous breakdown in 1940.
Post-War Life and Emigration
The nationalisation of Power Jets in 1944 led to his resignation from the board two years later. Whittle retired from the RAF in 1948, the same year he received his knighthood as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. His later career involved roles as a technical advisor for BOAC, an engineering specialist for Shell, and a position with Bristol Aero Engines. In 1976, he emigrated to the United States, serving as a NAVAIR Research Professor at the United States Naval Academy until 1979.
Fast facts
- Born: 1907, Coventry
- Died: 1996, Columbia
- Military rank: Air commodore
- Education: RAF College Cranwell; Peterhouse
- Key invention: Turbojet engine
- Royal Society membership: Fellow (1947)
- Significant honour: Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1948)
- Burial site: Lincolnshire
Questions readers ask
What was Frank Whittle's primary professional contribution?
He is credited with the co-creation of the turbojet engine.
Where did Whittle serve during his later years?
He served as a NAVAIR Research Professor at the United States Naval Academy from 1977 to 1979.
Achievements
- Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire — 1948
- Affiliated with Royal Air Force
- Educated at Peterhouse and Royal Air Force College Cranwell
- Worked as military flight engineer, aircraft pilot and inventor
