Memorial Tributes Volume 10 (2002) / Chapter Skim
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Frank Whittle
Frank Whittle
Pages 252-259
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From page 253... ...
During Whittle's three years there, he was trained as a metal aircraft rigger. Probably because of the aircraft engineering aptitude he displayed building a large powered model aircraft in off-duty 253
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From page 254... ...
His thesis was the starting point for his subsequent work on jet propulsion: "Future Developments in Aircraft Design." His flying instructor's final comments in Whittle's flight log inclucled these words in red ink "inclined to perform to gallery and flies too low." Frank loved aerobatics. While qualifying to be a flight instructor at the Central Flying School in 1929, Whittle had his first thought of using a turbine to produce a propelling jet instead of turning a propeller.
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From page 255... ...
The outcome of these discussions was a "Four Party Agreement" sanctioned by the Air Ministry, between Whittle, Williams, Tinting, and the investment firm Falk & Partners, and the incorporation in March 1936 of Power Jets, Limited. Because Whittle was a serving officer in the Royal Air Force, Power Jet's field of play was severely circumscribed by the Air Ministry 25 percent of Whittle's interest in the venture was allotted to the Crown; he was entitled to act as honorary chief engineer, but only off-duty and no more than six hours per week; all of Whittle's patent rights were assigned to the company, but the government retained right of "Free Crown Use." With very little capital, no employees, no facilities, and an unproved concept, one must be amazed that Whittle accomplished what he did, and not be surprised that his health failed in the end.
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From page 256... ...
Despite many procurement difficulties, and the fact that neither the turbine nor the compressor had been run as an individual component, the first run of the engine was self-sustaining on March 12, 1937. The next two years were fraught with difficulties on every front Falk failed to find adequate funds; the Air Ministry threatened to terminate Whittle's special duty assignment because progress was so slow; B.T-H evicted Power Jets from the marginal facilities they were using but provided space in an abandoned foundry; and every engine test disclosed some new mechanical or aerodynamic problem.
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From page 257... ...
In any event, both British and German governments failed to exploit the turbojet engine aggressively, so this new invention was not a factor in the conduct of World War II. The few Me 262s (powered by two Jumo 004 axial compressor turbojets)
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From page 258... ...
"Hap" Arnold had another concern that if he gave the job to a traditional engine manufacturer, it might suffer fatally from the notinvented-here syndrome. In 1944 Power Jets was nationalized and in April 1946 merged with the aircraft gas turbine section of the Royal Aircraft Establishment to form the National Gas Turbine Establishment, whose sole function was limited to conducting research and to assisting the aircraft industry.
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