Sir Frank Whittle entered Leavington College on a scholarship at the age of 11 and became an apprentice in the Royal Air Force College as a pilot officer in 1928, at the age of 21. 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. In the early days of World War II, his efforts were accelerated, and the first flight of his WI-engine in an experimental Gloster aircraft took place on May 15th 1941. The United States heard of the project and asked for the details and an engine. A Power Jets team and the engine were flown to Washington to enable General Electric to examine it and begin construction. The Americans worked quickly and their XP-59A Aircomet was airborne on October 2nd 1942. Sir Frank Whittle retired from the RAF with the rank of Air Commodore and later served as technical advisor to British Overseas Airways and research professor at the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland. Whittle received knighthood in 1976 for his achievements in the fields of jet propulsion and aircraft development and was awarded the Order of Merit in 1986. Nearly 47 years after man first ventured aloft, Sir Frank Whittle dramatically altered the course of aircraft and power plant design. The jet engine proved to be a winner, particularly in America where the technology was enthusiastically embraced. Whittle is honored throughout the world as inventor of the English jet engine.
Inducted in 1967.
Portrait Location: Hall of Fame Hallway