Genius Of The Jet | The Invention Of The Jet Engine: Frank Whittle | HD Documentary

The story of Frank Whittle, RAF pilot, mathematician of genius, inventor of the jet engine and British hero.
In 1929, a twenty-two-year-old maverick named Frank Whittle - a self-taught aeronautical obsessive and risk-takingly brilliant RAF pilot - presented a blueprint for a revolutionary, jet-powered aircraft engine to the Air Ministry. His idea had the potential to change the course of history, but it was summarily rejected.
Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, OM, KBE, CB, FRS, FRAeS (1 June 1907 - 8 August 1996) was an English engineer, inventor and Royal Air Force (RAF) air officer. He is credited with inventing the turbojet engine. A patent was submitted by Maxime Guillaume in 1921 for a similar invention which was technically unfeasible at the time. Whittle's jet engines were developed some years earlier than those of Germany's Hans von Ohain, who designed the first-to-fly (but never operational) turbojet engine.
Whittle demonstrated an aptitude for engineering and an interest in flying from an early age. At first he was turned down by the RAF but, determined to join the 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 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.
In 1948, Whittle retired from the RAF and received a knighthood. He joined BOAC as a technical advisor before working as an engineering specialist with Shell, followed by a position with Bristol Aero Engines. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1976 he accepted the position of NAVAIR Research Professor at the United States Naval Academy from 1977 to 1979. In August 1996, Whittle died of lung cancer at his home in Columbia, Maryland. In 2002, Whittle was ranked number 42 in the BBC poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.
Whittle was born in a terraced house in Newcombe Road, Earlsdon, Coventry, England, on 1 June 1907, the eldest son of Moses Whittle and Sara Alice Garlick. When he was nine years old, the family moved to the nearby town of Royal Leamington Spa where his father, a highly inventive practical engineer and mechanic, purchased the Leamington Valve and Piston Ring Company, which comprised a few lathes and other tools and a single-cylinder gas engine, on which Whittle became an expert. Whittle developed a rebellious and adventurous streak, together with an early interest in aviation.
After two years attending Milverton School, Whittle won a scholarship to a secondary school which in due course became Leamington College for Boys, but when his father's business faltered there was not enough money to keep him there. He quickly developed practical engineering skills while helping in his father's workshop, and being an enthusiastic reader spent much of his spare time in the Leamington reference library, reading about astronomy, engineering, turbines, and the theory of flight. At the age of 15, determined to be a pilot, Whittle applied to join the RAF.
In January 1923, having passed the RAF entrance examination with a high mark, Whittle reported to RAF Halton as an Aircraft Apprentice. He lasted only two days: just five feet tall and with a small chest measurement, he failed the medical. He then put himself through a vigorous training programme and special diet devised by a physical training instructor at Halton to build up his physique, only to fail again six months later, when he was told that he could not be given a second chance, despite having added three inches to his height and chest Undeterred, he applied again under an assumed name and presented himself as a candidate at the No 2 School of Technical Training RAF Cranwell.
#turbojet #aviation #Whittle

[@Dronescapes]

Click the link to watch more aircraft, heroes and their stories, missions: www.youtube.com/@Dronescapes

[@montieluckett7036]

@@tatradak The Sov's didn't have the metallurgy, so when they toured the plant a GRU agent or a scientist used a specially set of shoes with a certain type crepe sole to collect the shavings from the machining of the metal used to reverse engineer the composition to build a turbine engine. I believe that is what you may be alluding to. But it was the state of what the USSR and PRC is. They can never figure out anything that they need . They steal anything they can get their hands on to further their technological advancement. The AK-47 is a redesign of the STG-44, the T-34 is based upon the christie suspension system, the first soviet bomber was a reversed engineered B-29 that the chinese steal everything or force a western company to give up their proprietary designs to manufacture in their country. If you look back far enough, you'd probably find they stole their first rabbit trap from the Eskimos. This is the fallacy of Marxism. No Original thought here.

[@scheusselmensch5713]

@@tatradak You've seen the interviews of Russian agents who wore crepe soled shoes during tours of the factory to collect samples of metal used in the manufacture of the British engines?

[@scheusselmensch5713]

@@tatradak On a scale of 1 to 10, just how lazy are you LOL?

[@scheusselmensch5713]

@@tatradak Well I've watched the interviews of the people who were directly involved and so many years on they would have little reason to come up with porkies like that. Do you have any knowledge of the difficulty involved reverse engineering jet engines? RR sold them engines but they didn't part with trade secrets. They weren't special shoes, they simply had crepe soles. My own nothing special shoes pick up metal when I'm machining. We (the west) are still ahead in metallurgy, that's why western designs can run hotter and by that achieve better SFC figures. The Soviets were actually not able to reproduce the alloy used in the RR, they had to settle for something that creeped a little. It worked but it wasn't optimal. Soviet propaganda would have gone something like "We obtained samples of the RR alloy and Comrade Stalin came up with something far superior in less than a fortnight.".

[@alanfenick1103]

What a wonderful tribute to a true hero of aviation and humanity! Well done!

[@lirenzeng592]

This man is so under appreciated. He changed the course of aviation history.

[@AbnEngrDan]

So under appreciated. Bureaucracy never changes, no matter the Era. People who specialize in nothing; who know nothing, who produce nothing...telling innovators and doers what will or will not work.

[@Maartentje]

What I always miss is those people confronted afterwards with their wrong decision making and their reactions.

[@davidshattock9522]

Always the same arm chair jockeys saying oh no why do it any different we always do it this way

[@MrVorpalsword]

correction "bureaucracy ...... telling innovators and doers what will not work." C, architect

[@ericlakota1847]

Yeas you put my 💭 thoughts into the words I was looking for .

[@joeysplats3209]

@@Maartentje the "experts" are often hard to find after that :D

[@EMan-cu5zo]

Shows like these is why I no longer watch tv. This is interesting and informative, something the shows on television don’t any longer have.

[@Dronescapes]

Wow, thank you

[@jasWerner-qt5wj]

This was on T.V....I saw it 😂 ..in depth interview before he pasted away

[@EMan-cu5zo]

@@jasWerner-qt5wj but no longer on television though?

[@cruisepaige]

“Shows ARE!” FFS, you might not be watching TV, but you sure aren’t reading books!

[@EMan-cu5zo]

@@cruisepaige true, I listen to audiobooks mostly. I can’t for whatever reason sit still when I have to read.

[@user-gk5fn9ev9p]

Sir Frank Whittle, a man of genius and indomitable courage, shrunk the world. His example of self sacrifice, honor, and duty must never be forgotten,

[@Dronescapes]

Well said.

[@trickywoo5165]

Yes! The type of man the RAF absolutely refuse to accept today because of his skin color. Good men like Tim Davies of @Fast Jet Performance have exposed their anti White bias to the world & embarrassed his ex bosses because of their anti White hiring practices 👌🏻

[@TheSulross]

But also part of his story is of a nation that relentlessly underappreciated appreciated his genius and consistently gave him the shaft per the magnitude and import of his accomplishments. Sadly it was Germany and then the US that far better grasped and ran with the fruit of his genius. Britain was sometimes its own worst enemy.

[@ps3301]

British deserve their decline. They treat their best like shit. Alan Turing (computer grandfather) was treated as criminal and whittle was kicked out of jet engine industry.

[@AllanSitte]

When I attended USAF Jet Engine Mechanics school, they taught us about the Whittle turbojet engine. They had a Whittle engine in the school building where the non-moving sections were cut open cross-section to see the internal structures... and the turbine and shaft installed so that it was possible to rotate the turbine inside the display. The teaching of the Whittle engine was early in the training and was to teach fundamental concepts of jet engine function. Thank you Sir Frank Whittle. You changed the world forever.

[@rockinrocketman]

USAF jet engine mechanics school😎

[@AllanSitte]

@@haroldfiedler6549 They did cover the German designs as well. But I think they couldn't get a full size German engine display for the school. I also do not think they would have had any more space in that museum room. I remember a class of 16 students would be huddled together in that room for lectures. There were many similar displays of more modern jet engine components in cross-section all scrunched into the museum room. They were all on wheels so instructors could position them for a class view. Almost every display in the room contributed to education of students as a physical representation of concepts. Some people learn better when they can see a real thing versus a drawing on a chalk board. NOTE: Yes... back in 1989 they were still using chalk boards in that school - each class had to clean those after a day of training. I remember shaking chalk dust out of my uniform. As for Wittle success... not much I can dispute there. But the US military did appreciate his ideas. He was highly regarded by the US military for his contributions.

[@jimanstey9174]

@@AllanSitte It's Whittle, with an h.

[@jimanstey9174]

It's Sir Frank.

[@AllanSitte]

@@jimanstey9174 My apologies... fixed it.. Thank you for the correction.

[@samhunt9380]

Sir Frank inspired me my whole life. From a boy dreamer to a corporate pilot. What a wonderful tribute to an unsung genius. R.I.P Sir....

[@trif55]

The simplicity of it: "I thought maybe a piston engine with a fan in a tube would blow air better, then I thought maybe remove the piston engine and power it with a turbine and compress the air more" The fact that if you said something like that out of the blue it almost sounds like a perpetual motion machine! (obviously not as you're adding gas and burning it, but the fact that you generate enough compression initially) - edit: amusing he describes it as perpetual motion later in the video, maybe I'm not so daft!

[@dospalmascb]

My dad had the privilege of meeting Frank and working with him as an apprentice.

[@MichealAnthonyGennaro]

Whittle was much more appreciated here in the USA. He was treated like royalty when he arrived at GE in Lynn, Massachusetts. I actually met the man in 1975 during a class field trip to the Jet Engine Museum at General Electric. I was only in the third grade and I wish I could have appreciated him more than my young age allowed.

[@Dronescapes]

How lucky of you

[@clareshaughnessy2745]

I had no idea how much he was overlooked here in Britain. Although the story is very common, we Brits are second to none at inventing, but not great at actually doing the necessary to make the inventions financially successful. But, yeah, we all know the name Frank Whittle today and his contribution to the world, but it’s so sad he was thrown into the wilderness at the time. Thank you USA for looking after him. I’m embarrassed that you had to

[@GerardVaughan-qe7ml]

​@@clareshaughnessy2745 Not so much "we Brits" as the evil scum we have in government.

[@oeliamoya9796]

Never seen a channel with so many Ad breaks. Goodness. Not even created content. Reposting an old documentary and selecting the max amount of ads REALLY detracts from the enjoyment of watching this biography of this great man

[@Dronescapes]

@@oeliamoya9796 Well, the repost is thanks to Quantafilms, the producer, that receives royalties from it. Before being posted on the channel, you had to purchase it. thanks to these royalties, and our extra contribution, Quantafilm managed to get the entire 16mm footage of the raw interviews digitized at the legendary Pinewood Studios. We have a copy, and it adds greatly to the story, on top of being an extremely important addition to the history of the turbojet. Without all this those 16mm moveis might have been lost forever. The producer, because of this success, is also embarking at making a new extended, and updated version, so while you complain about ads for free content, instead of purchasing the video (which you can also do), we are thinking of what it set in motion, in a very positive way. Beside, you have even more choice Oelia! Perhaps you are not aware that you have yet another option. You might want to take a look at KZbin Premium, among the many perks, it also eliminates all ads. It is a matter of choices. We grew up learning that nothing is free, and if it is, you should be almost scared. these day it seems that some demand that things be free, but I am sure that if you work, you do not do it for free, correct?

[@moonbaby6134]

After spending over 20 years working on aircraft in the RAF and over 30 years in the industry, this man deserves every accolade he will ever get.

[@Dronescapes]

👍👍

[@MrRockstar1969]

Hans Vo Ohain invented and had the first 2 jet engines in a working fighter jet in the War in Germany???? Frank work was after this.....and he was not the inventor of the Jet engine in my opinion

[@moonbaby6134]

⁠@@MrRockstar1969von chain even cited Whittles work as the reason why he went into jet propulsion design. So your opinion is irrelevant and incorrect.

[@ryansmith8336]

@@MrRockstar1969did you know watch the video at all? By the time whittle had a patten hans was just a teenager

[@johnfox7674]

When I was in my teens, I was privileged to know Sir Frank when he and his family lived just outside Chagford in Devon. His encouragement played a major part in my decision to study mechanical engineering at London, a decision I have never regretted. He was an inspiration then and he remains an inspiration to me to this day. What a brilliant mind, what a charming and practical mentor and friend! You will be forever missed.

[@Dronescapes]

👍❤️

[@thomaseck4867]

Amazing! Thx for sharing! What a Brilliant mind!!!!!

[@ronoveson2798]

Great story, thanks for sharing it. Hearing someone say this makes him just that much more real. I’m amazed at how many different times and for many differences reasons the jet engine almost wasn’t!

[@edadams4631]

Wonderful

[@mervhoward5821]

Throughout the whole of this film, I could feel overwhelming anger building and building because of the way this great, great man was treated. As a veteran of 38 years in the RAF, I feel I know, in a very small way, how it must have affected him. Unfortunately NOTHING has changed. Unqualified pencil pushing civil servants that wouldn’t know what a war was if it landed on their head, standing in the way of progress. RIP Sir Frank.

[@JasonSobell]

We know from dozens of stories like this that it's often only when a senior decision-maker is either something of a maverick or a personal friend that common sense prevails, and that is a very sad aspect of British society. Scorning and disregarding ideas or suggestions created by someone considered below the upper echelons is not unique to Britain, but it is prevalent here, and it results in huge rifts between those considering themselves working class and those in positions of control or power. This mutual distrust and animosity then often results is stupidly damaging decisions, from unjust rulings to self-inflicted economic or societal injury (with a key recent example being Brexit), and I think Frank Whittle's treatment by the authorities was yet another example of this at play. As a point in case just consider what authorities did to Alan Turing.

[@Sleeplessmclean]

I can't believe that I had never heard of this great man. The stupidity of evil and mediocre bureaucrats forced him to move across the pond. No man is a prophet in his own land, said Jesus. Very sad.

[@mark-1234]

It's the same way they treated John Harrison and his marine chronometer.

[@dburjorjee]

​@@mark-1234 not to mention Babbage, Turing, Brunel...

[@20chocsaday]

@@JasonSobell It also happens in civilian life. Like the researcher who said that computers have nothing to do with his work, neglecting to consider how much and how quickly they could return information that he would have to look up in the reports of the work done. Or how a computer could very swiftly sift through information and extrapolate from it.

[@hammerlane3871]

If I owned an airline company I'd have his name on every single plane in the fleet. What a remarkable feat of engineering genius

[@jimcaufman2328]

My journey in aviation has taken me from a U.S. Army Hiller H-23 to the B-777. I never in all my years flying, had an engine failure of for that matter an emergency. Unlike most pilots I am also a licensed aircraft mechanic and have been amazed at the complexity and at the same time the simplicity of the aircraft I have flown and maintained. The two most important improvements since the Wright brothers in aviation have been the jet engine and the introduction of computers to monitor aircraft systems. Learning more about Frank Whittle and his family has once again proven to me that politicians and bankers have done more to slow up progress of the human advancement. Thank you for sharing this Video.

[@Dronescapes]

Thank you for the kind comment and for sharing your experiences Jim. Also, thank you for your service

[@Habu2]

Quite right Jim.....so many idiots in positions of authority just through saying the right thing at the interview.

[@jakobusjohannes2195]

Worded beautifully, spot on. I completely agree.

[@kenrobba5831]

Jim ! Hello ! We must have started about the same time. See this about Frank Whittle was a revelation to his efforts and place in history. Brings tears to my heart !!!

[@scottmcauley5781]

America's technologies in the late 50's is still more advanced then 90% of the world's technologies! I honestly believe that there's many cures for things but our government works with big pharmaceutical! They give them billions of dollars to create treatments not cures, this way they both keep making ridiculous amounts of money! Late 50's The SR 71 BLACK BIRD To this day is more advanced than most of every other countries technologies! B2 bomber is more advanced then all countries and that was started in the 70s and mass produced in the 80's the the raptor and now NGAD Which designed and built a 6 th gen in 6 months skipped all trial and errors!

[@kailebmonk3083]

20 years ago, I was in 7th grade and I did a presentation on Sir Frank Whittle and how undervalued he was. He remains one of my favorite World War era figures, though he is sadly less known. Thank you for putting this video together.

[@Dronescapes]

❤👍🙏

[@happychappie9933]

Many thanks for a Great presentation! My father, Alexander Tupalski, escaped from Poland with great difficulty, and worked as a Mechanical engineer, on Jet Engine design, in the UK in 1942. He moved to Turbomeca in Toulouse France in 1944. He pioneered new methods of fabricating turbine discs, which up to then had been made from one piece of steel. When Marchal Petain came to power and threatened to make France a communist country, we emigrated to Australia in 1951. As there was no Aircraft industry in Australia at that time, My Father became Chief engineer on the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme. He left us in 1980. .... A Tupalska in Thailand.

[@jaismohamad1497]

I learnt about this great engineer in school not knowing how difficult it was for him. His tenacity changed flying.

[@donaldvincent]

A war hero who never fired a shot, and could have prevented many shots from being fired. RIP Mr Whittle. You earned it.

[@Dronescapes]

👍

[@panija1139]

​@@Dronescapes#######

[@ClipsCrazy__]

Not could have. 100% saved millions of lives and connected hundreds of millions of people.

[@donaldvincent]

@@ClipsCrazy__ You're right! I stand corrected. The part about "connected hundreds of millions of people." I completely overlooked. I am so glad you mentioned it. To ponder the untold happiness these millions or billions of connections fills me with pure joy. It has even touched my life repeatedly. I live in Orlando and many years ago was engaged to a lady from Lagos. In 1999 I married my wife from Montreal. All of these connections were only possible because of Mr. Whittle.

[@genebohannon8820]

I didn't realize he had dreamt up the axial bypass engine too! Good show old boy!

[@stfztg3623]

It seems the brits, at that time, were experts in mistreating geniuses. RIP Sir Frank Whittle and Sir Alan Turing. And thank you, DroneScapes, for the wonderful material. TIL.

[@zedzpan]

What an amazing man he was. We owe so much to him.

[@michaelwest7844]

I met Sir Frank whilst working in Hong Kong. He gave fellow aviators a wonderful talk - with pictures, on his early years. An absolute priviledge to talk with him afterwords.

[@Dronescapes]

👍🙂

[@ChrisPyle]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate, one man changed the world with his brain and hard work. Kids need examples like this today more than ever.

[@Dronescapes]

👍👍

[@Justin-ql6jm]

So true

[@Cokie907]

I met Sir Frank Whittle at the Naval Academy circa 1987. He used to guest lecture my Propulsion class. I remember talking to him and thinking "this is pretty f***ing cool"! 😂

[@tomdsm543]

I was a turbine engine repairer in the Army for almost 8 years, yet I only now learned of this great man now that I'm 59. What a story! RIP Sir!

[@nickalderson4563]

I met him in the 70s/80s. I was designing his book on Aero Thermo dynamics and he had been invited over to Oxford. Very modest man.

[@Dronescapes]

thanks for sharing Nick!

[@robertjones8083]

His engineering legacy lives on at the Whittle Laboratory, part of the University of Cambridge. By coincidence I walked past it earlier today to help burn-off the Xmas excess, there is an actual turbo fan blade hanging above the entrance. Of great inspiration to Whittle was Charles Parsons, the steam turbine inventor, also a Cambridge alumni (St John's College). My office is a few doors down from the Parsons room named in his honour. Funny how things turn out.

[@kellycoleman715]

What a shame that the British government couldn’t see the future of aviation in Frank’s brilliant engine deign. It cost the nation lives in WW2. Frank was a true visionary. Bravo on a brilliant documentary.

[@jasWerner-qt5wj]

Over 7000.??? Was total cash invested wow...???.in beginning of show....they blew that much on dinner 🍽 and booze in any snooty Downton Abbey household on the weekend 😅

[@mikemurphy5898]

So much respect to that guy for all he did, and the fact he never gave up or became bitter

[@Dronescapes]

That makes his the genius that he truly was

[@allanb52]

I am an engineer also British and so proud of what we have achieved with people like Whittle, I.K.Brunel, James Watt, Richard Trevithic, George Stevenson, John Stringfellow and Alan Turin.

[@Dronescapes]

👍👍

[@statementleaver8095]

Don't forget about G.A.Bell and T.Crapper Phone and Toilet 👍 EDIT And Webb Without Webb I would be watching this on the Internet 😂😂

[@Dronescapes]

@@statementleaver8095 since you mention Bell, he cleverly stole Meucci's invention/patent. Meucci, just like Whittle, was broke. The US Congress finally awared the invention of the phone to Meucci, in early 2000. It is a good thing that he had no known descendants, otherwise AT&T would probably have to pay trillions in patent rights. It was a bitter fight that Bell knew he could win with powere and money, but it seems that history cleared things up. But just kike with Whittle, where most people think a German invented the turbojet, hardly anyone knows about Meucci.

[@SAHBfan]

I think that is a very common story. It always seems to be the guy who gets the patent in his name who gets credited with being ‘the inventor’ when often it just isn’t true. There are hundreds of examples we know about - and probably thousands where we don’t…

[@allanb52]

@@SAHBfan I don't think anyone doubts who invented the jet engine, he did it at school too and unlike many inventions it is mostly original thought. Did you know that the first powered flight wasn't by an american, or frenchmen, it was also a Brit, in 1848 it was a monoplane too, but it was unmanned, so no one took any notice. It used an airfoil wing and was heavier than air, steam powered.

[@mickyday2008]

I work in the actual building that Whittle fired up his first engine. It’s amazing that it’s still standing

[@Dronescapes]

😯👍

[@gasgas2689]

I live just down the road. We should surely be proudly aware that we tread the same streets as he did.

[@chrisworthen1538]

Is it a Listed structure?

[@jaidhanki]

Thank you, Sir Frank Whittle. The world owes you theirs gratitude for your contribution.🎉🙏

[@albertgigmai2199]

Long live these great men. Your contribution in the Aviation Industry has revolutionized the world of travel. May your brilliant minds rest well. Long Live the Fathers of the Jet Engine.

[@diGritz1]

A humble, hard working man that stayed true to his dream and values and who's family has every right to be proud of. We should all be so lucky to have that said of us. Nothing really more to be said then that.

[@cinemaipswich4636]

What a marvelous story of a man who invented modern aviation. His duty to country and his love of flying were most deservedly honoured. I have always remember his name all my life. He was a genius, and he will never be forgotten.

[@Dronescapes]

🙂♥️👏

[@robertmiller2173]

You just have your decades wrong, at least 2 decades!

[@chrishamilton2527]

What an amazing fellow. I so wish his story was taught in schools and that those in power could learn how to govern. RIP, Sir Frank.

[@gangfire5932]

What a genius and innovator. I would have loved to had met him in 1928 and given him all the money and support he needed to develop the first turbojet-powered aircraft. The world is diminished by his passing.

[@catinthehat906]

Imagine if he'd been taken seriously by the Air Ministry, the Germans would have faced jet aircraft at the Battle of Britain.

[@gangfire5932]

@@catinthehat906 Given the British advantage in espionage at the time I believe that would have been the case if they also realized what a gold mine they had and beefed up operational security. I doubt they'd have the equivalent of English Electric Lightnings but certainly something as good as the MiG-15 . . . and the Germans with no Me-262's even late in the war.

[@dogsbodyish8403]

@@gangfire5932 The Me262's real innovation was its airframe - swept wings (and used to great effect, along with Whittle's engine, in the MiG-15). It's axial-compressor engines were its great weakness, kililng more pilots than enemy action, and needing rebuilds after each sortie...

[@MrSniperdude01]

@@catinthehat906 seriously dude ? This fella's rendition was such shit that even after the war ministry gave him a shot to design a jet fighter, it was shelved for home defense rather than combat service due to extremely low speed & limited range. Funny nobody did that to the Henkel brothers 🚀

[@Pan_Galactic_Gargle_Blaster]

@@dogsbodyish8403 the design of the engines weren't the issue, it was the quality of material (metallurgy primarily) and manufacture (much was using concentration camp slave labor). centrifugal compression was an immediate dead end.

[@georgemacdonell2341]

Genius never ceases to amaze me.

[@Dronescapes]

♥️👍

[@seansands424]

The stupidity of the government never ceases to amaze me.

[@seansands424]

Genius like Whittle having to deal with useless co;ts

[@stevie-ray2020]

@@seansands424 Neither did they listen to him on the shape of the Dehavilland Comet's windows!

[@stevenj.elliott1579]

I had the honour of spray painting a large model of the Gloster Whittle a number of years ago This was to take up residence on the centre of a roundabout in Lutterworth as a tribute to Sir Frank Whittle. An excellent designer and father of a great technology that has benefitted so many millions of people the world over. RIP Sir Frank.

[@aloha1lanakila]

The greatest thing I have ever heard and ever watched. What a glorious story of a great human being. What a right honorable star Mr. Whittle is.

[@Gorbyrev]

Humble, dutiful and ambitious, what a remarkable combination of characteristics.

[@Dronescapes]

In these especially trying time for the UK, this documentary is a reminder of the many brilliant minds that came out of the Great Britain, despite all the adversities of his own establishment, Whittle managed to accomplish what his pears, for example in Germany, could work on with all the needed resources, and some more. It is a testament of how, even with everything against him and just a few supporters, the brilliant Whittle could accomplish incredible results from simple intuition and without specific knowledge. A true testament to his greatness and an inspiration for all, but especially British people

[@MrDaiseymay]

Not many people know this---but Germany's preparation for the next war, began long before Hitler. The defeated Generals, who still had more power than most realised , started a new secret production plan, not just in hidden German Factories, BUT AMAZINGLY, in Soviet Russia too, whereTanks and new Aeroplanes could also be tested , away from view. The rest of Europe cut back on all military production, and it was peace at any cost. Hitler, simply stopped pretending to obey the Versailles restrictions

[@trollking202]

Pay a ten shine Mr Bond Alan Bond 2 million hush 🤫 hush we will sit on your Sabre until we give to the US all this time with No reaction engine and all spit and polish to Uncle Sam 😮

[@michaelpielorz9283]

Sorry, not really true, von Ohain had to struggle too!

[@Dronescapes]

@@michaelpielorz9283 not really, as he states in the interview in the documentary. He had full support and all the money he needed. His struggles were that his engine was extremely fragile, but that had nothing to do with the ability to develop, like Whittle had.

[@DavidRobinson-rj2sp]

The short-sightedness of the British 'powers that be' never ceases to amaze.

[@pmoris4405]

You can tell how genious is an invention when it hasn’t been replaced yet after 80 years.

[@tedsmith3061]

I'm 64 in January. Sometimes I feel there's not enough of us to keep the importance of keeping heroes like Frank Whittle in our memories. I briefly heard in school about who Frank was. Today...I listened carefully. Everything fell into place. Now I can also regale Mr Whittle's story. Keep him alive. As he deserves. Thank you for this great interview. I watched every minute of it with about 40% use of my left eye only due to glaucoma. It was still worth the effort. I already knew a lot about the jet engine and when it was first used and where. After this well collated documentary my knowledge of this topic has been even more well rounded. Add another tenth of a point to my intelligence quotient. intelligence.

[@Dronescapes]

❤👍🙏

[@patriciosilvarobalino9832]

Don't worry Ted. We remember, thats what we could do

[@tedsmith3061]

@@patriciosilvarobalino9832 And we do what we can.

[@handyandy6488]

Just an emblematic story of British things: innovative vision, engineering genius, class privilege, administrative incompetence, underesourcing, national decline and disillusionment. All with some amazing bright spots along the way. I was a British engineer who moved to the US as well. I don't compare myself to the quality of the great names like Frank Whittle or Alan Turing or Digby Worthy (who I knew slightly) but I do appreciate their experiences and spiritual anguish.

[@chrisgosling5408]

At times it seems as if it is a new phenomenen but watching the story presented here it isn't, quite why ol' blighty likes to shoot itself in the foot at every golden opportunity is beyond me. the people who do suceed do so inspite of the establishments best efforts.

[@chrisgosling5408]

The attitude shift in the states is also key here, I have experienced the same in my work life where you spend so much effort in trying to convince people that this becomes normal until you drop in with a group that shares the vision. I think of the statement "what do you mean we can just go ahead and get it done" to be read in a surprised tone.

[@andylane247]

We are not good at this sort of stuff. Class and incompetence...

[@georgemorley1029]

Very well said.

[@lglubbock7593]

nobody buys this propaganda

[@steveblackbird5174]

As an Aircraft Engineer of 30 years, Sir Frank Whittle was one of the Engineers I learned much about during the first few years of my training. Incredible that his invention even made it to the stage it did with government bureaucracy and ineptitude to downright, as they say, skulduggery. Disgusting really. Governments are all the same. As Lt. Dan said in the comment below "People who specialize in nothing; who know nothing, who produce nothing...telling innovators and doers what will or will not work." Could not have said it better myself. Epic documentary and definitely a favourite on YT.

[@mohammadnoormauludadnan1847]

Spot on.

[@nungma1987]

Nice information and story telling. thank you.

[@Dronescapes]

So nice of you

[@griffinstadler]

Great documentary. I’m so glad the US took him under our wing and showed him the appreciation he deserved. Long love Sir Frank Whittle 🇺🇸🇬🇧

[@ScotsmaninUtah]

Frank Whittle was a genius and he deserved much more recognition than was given for his truly great contribution.

[@GpunktHartman]

The German Guy Ohain also ...Whittle whas it not alone !

[@BobbyGeneric145]

At least history remembers him appropriately.

[@michealpallett5708]

I could not agree with you more he wos a legend rest in peace sir your with all the other legends

[@macunion1225]

amazing man , and his son becomes a pilot and an understated gentleman , i felt a bit emotional when he talked about flying his dad and landing at that tricky airport , amazing

[@Dronescapes]

Thank you Mac!

[@johnmcameron1811]

I think it's very sad how he was treated in the early years, such a great and humble man!

[@drzman6901]

Wow, just wow. What a fitting tribute to a person who made such a difference to our lives. I very much appreciate this telling of Frank Whittle's story.

[@davidcolin6519]

I am proud that my uncle worked with Frank Whittle on this project. Bob Feilden only appears in one or two of the photos in this video, but Frank had a team that worked together to make it happen. Most members of that team also went on to have important contributions to world aviation. So it was not simply that FW was important for the invention, it was also that he had such a brilliant team, and that team went on to influence aviation almost as much as the invention itself.

[@Dronescapes]

Thank you so much for sharing David, it is a nice change from the constant battle of: "Who made it first". they were indeed a great team. If you have anything to share, please feel free to do so!

[@warren5692]

Yes, he was the father of the jet engine, but he knew how to create a team of gifted people to make it happen.

[@davidcolin6519]

@@Dronescapes Bob is pictured at 55,22 directly behind whittle and the other team member shaking hands. He wasn't a short man. I believe that he was responsible for the engineering of the mounting systems.

[@mskellyrlv]

Wow! As a kid, I read avidly about the pioneers of aviation and space, and knew of Frank Whittle's involvement in jet propulsion. But nothing I read went in to the extent of his entrepreneurial efforts, or the height of his accomplishments. Having been in the entrepreneurial space world myself, and suffered its slings and arrows, I have a profound admiration for Whittle. I thank the producers of this documentary for giving him the recognition he deserves. Excellent job!

[@anoopkhandekar799]

What a masterpiece Film. Loved every moment of it. A Royal Salute to Late Sir Frank Whittal

[@huffdaddy3845]

What a wonderful documentary. It's sad that not very many people know of this great man and his accomplishments.

[@Dronescapes]

Thank you Huffdaddy, glad you liked it.I completely agree with, the world needs more inspiring figures like Frank Whittle

[@HistoricAeroEngines]

A fine programme covering the inventive life of Sir Frank Whittle. His engines are truly historic aero engines.

[@Dronescapes]

👍🙏❤️

[@blake9358]

Germany developed the first jet engine, and the world's first jet engined aircraft.

[@SAHBfan]

Based on Whittle’s patent. So? So what? So why keep posting this over and over?

[@xDR1TeK]

Frank Whittle, a fellow engineer not by choice but by necessity, cheers to all engineers may your successes be as phenomenal as this one man.

[@Dronescapes]

👍

[@jimmbbo]

A great story of an outstanding aviator and talented engineer. Well worth watching!! RIP Mr. Whittle, we owe you a great deal.

[@HowlingWo1f]

It’s good to see such a pioneer be recognized

[@gasgas2689]

I live in Lutterworth where he built an experimental jet engine. We had a Whittle memorial weekend where we were taken into the upper room where we were told he first fired up his invention. He thought it might work so he chained the trolley it was built on, to the outer brick wall. He fired up the engine, it shot across the room on the trolley and pulled a load of bricks out of the wall leaving a 8ft diameter hole. After that they sank a deep RSJ steel into the ground outside and tied the engine to that. The top of the RSJ steel is still sticking up out of the ground and the evidence of the hole in the brick wall is there in the form of different coloured mortar between the bricks.

[@kentl7228]

What a genius. I like the balance of this documentary on giving due respect to the German achievements.

[@vksasdgaming9472]

Whittle and Ohain worked practically same project at same time without direct knowledge of each other's work. Neither could steal from another.

[@SAHBfan]

I think it is pretty well known now that Von Ohain had seen Whittle’s patent. The engines in the Me262 were axial designs based on Griffith’s work, not Von Ohains. Ohain gets a big credit for getting an engine flying before the British - but his work was ultimately a dead end after showing the Nazi leadership the way.

[@ikennaiwuchukwu6949]

​@@vksasdgaming9472 it was Whittle patent read by Ohain in the 1930s that Ohain worked on. So Whittle was the idealist who first thought of the jet propulsion engine. However both engineers worked separately in the 1930s and 1940s. And I was glad the documentary also gave recognition to Ohain.

[@vksasdgaming9472]

@@ikennaiwuchukwu6949 Funnily enough Whittle's patent was valid only few years and engineers routinely do inspect what others have invented. Of course Whittle didn't invent jet propulsion out of thin air. In practical sense both Whittle and Ohain deserve credit for designing first practical turbojet engines.

[@georgemavrides3434]

UK/US will always take credit for things others pioneered. That's what empires are about.

[@tinman4585]

Very well done tribute to Sir Frank Whittle a true pioneer

[@DavidSmith-kk5so]

Probably one of the greatest inventors of our time, what a story will think of this documentary every time I now fly.

[@renegadenobody6802]

These hour long aerospace documentaries make life worth living. ❤

[@Dronescapes]

🙂🙂🙏

[@clemclemson9259]

you are easily amused.

[@Dronescapes]

@@clemclemson9259 what a unpleasant, unnecessary answer Clem. Merry Christmas

[@briannave7326]

This documentary about such an amazing man should be shown in schools everywhere.

[@Dronescapes]

I agree! We could all learn from the mistakes that were made in not listening to him as far back as 1929, when he presented his idea to the Air Ministry and it was rejected.

[@patrickyoung3503]

I'm late making this comment in May 2023 I feel better late than never . To say that it took years to appreciate Sir Frank Whittle invention of jet engine development is astonishing by any standard . I know that he wanted his invention for civil flight but war got in the way . The subsequent pulling between civi & military requirements weren't the only obsticals that he had to overcome I'll say no more on that part of his troubles . Honour & Respect . Lest we forget .

[@craigcampbell5937]

Such a great man. So very modest and humble.

[@Dronescapes]

Well said

[@thanksfernuthin]

What a fantastic documentary. To have the actual legend be able to relate the amazing story. What a national treasure. And I'm proud he was so revered in my country, America.

[@Dronescapes]

❤🙏

[@falklan]

I first learned of Sir Whittle during my time in the AF. I was stationed in the UK when he passed. I do believe, if we would have known at the time, many of us would have shown up in dress blues to honor this great man!

[@c-teamtrading9690]

What you learned is British propaganda ! The Germans designed , developed and flew the first jet aircraft in the World! All jet engine technology was taken from the captured German jet aircraft and further developed including ALL British designs! It is only then that you realized Whittle was on to something good but it was never developed to the German level!

[@fritzwrangle-clouder6033]

@@c-teamtrading9690 What you learned is wehraboo bollocks. The development of jet engines used today comes from many people and many nations and certainly not exclusively the German.

[@SAHBfan]

@@c-teamtrading9690🤡

[@bryanttillman]

Great story. Thank you for acquainting me with Mr. Whittle.

[@sissitop1505]

Like so many great inventors most people recognize their genie and spirit not before they leave us. What a great and modest inventor.

[@Supernumerary]

Despite their best efforts, British society and government just couldn’t do enough to harm and hold back this commoner Whittle, he still succeeded. Even the title of this documentary is holding back, because he also invented the turbo-fan concept.

[@MeTube3]

@@johnnunn8688I think we are talking about a bypass turbo-fan here.

[@jackeagles1637]

A very interesting story of one brilliant man and the incompetence, deceit, treachery and betrayal of people in the Air Ministry and British companies. Add to this the story of Rolls Royce giving the jet engine to Russia.

[@jimstanga6390]

That was Clement Atlee’s idea…

[@johnburns4017]

Nothing wrong with giving the Soviets an engine that could only be used for non-military purposes, in peacetime.

[@jimstanga6390]

@@johnburns4017 There is no such thing…but then I suppose Sir Stafford Cripps didn’t know that…

[@johnburns4017]

@@johnnunn8688 wrote: _what?_ *Read again.*

[@johnburns4017]

@@jimstanga6390 No such thing as what?

[@kofi7110]

One of the greatest stories i have ever heard. The sky is indeed whittle.

[@Dronescapes]

I could not agree more, he succeeded against all odds

[@paddlefaster]

It's funny how some inventions are met with Incredible resistance and only in hindsight is it clear how brilliant they really were. A true visionary.

[@David-fn7ro]

Superb documentary and a tribute to a great Englishman!

[@kflo7696]

It was amazing how the two jet engine pioneers, an Englishman and a German, ended up in the US afterwards.

[@paulf2898]

America has a can do attitude and gives people a chance, Britain tends to turn it's nose up at anyone with a brain or a good idea

[@bootlegpete7984]

@@paulf2898 Yeah ok pal. Current leadership and political polices aren't reflective of an entire nations people and its history. And lets not forget the Brits were paving the way with mach 2 transatlantic flights and VTOL aircraft many years after they handed America the blueprints to the jet engine 🤣

[@paulf2898]

@@bootlegpete7984 well Americans do have more money than sense

[@oswaldoramosferrusola5235]

It is not amazing. It is allá about resources.

[@scottgordon1781]

Super interesting , thanks . In the early 70 s was at South Cerney for glider training . They had a Messerschmitt jet in an hanger . Single engine , started with a pull start lawn mower engine , had to lean into the engine , to kick start the jet .

[@sahir313]

Mankind never appreciate genuinely genius ideas on time.

[@Mute_Nostril_Agony]

Fantastic that Sir Frank was able to take part in the reconstruction on film.

[@Dronescapes]

Yes, rare interviews

[@mobydick3895]

Isn't it amazing that great inventions are often a conceptual coupling of previous inventions. Each time an initial concept is followed by a number of new problems that, once solved create an elegant end result.

[@rockinrocketman]

This is the way 👍

[@TheBeastlyplayback]

Imagine how many Whittles are turned away or can't afford the training for the job across the world, every year, in every field.

[@DanFontaine]

Without a doubt one of the most incredible men of the 20th Century

[@Dronescapes]

Indeed

[@EricDalton1910]

How on earth did I miss this first time around in 2007? The Frank Whittle interview is from 1986 though. A determined genius. His invention has led to some fantastic machines being created.

[@Dronescapes]

Perhaps because back then it was not distributed properly. KZbin compensates for TV networks’s lack of interest

[@supertuscans9512]

Also in those days, if you weren’t able to catch it during live broadcast, you missed it until video recorders came along.

[@restitvtororbis5330]

Best line in the whole video right after the test flight "How does that thing work John?" "oh it's easy ole boy it just sucks itself along like a Hoover." Like, he's not NECESSARILY wrong, but that is by far the bizarre and hilarious description of a jet engine I've ever heard 😅

[@kevinrkinsella]

Ironically during development of this SR71 it became apparent that (at High Mach) a significant portion of overall engine thrust was being generated at the entrance ramp of each engine, in effect the spikes were pulling the engine along!

[@chitlika]

Thats English my friend and its wonderful gift for Underststement

[@georgegonzalez2476]

@@kevinrkinsella Sorry, but that is still wrong. There is no such thing as "suck". No. Such. Thing. Air molecules have negligible cohesive force. They can't pull on anything. It may seem that way but it can only be air molecules on the back side pushing back. What is really happening is there is a lack of air molecules pushing against the inlet, so their corresponding opposites on the back side are doing the pushing forward with no ones in the front pushing back.

[@gasgas2689]

I bet that is where Dyson got his idea for hoovers from. 😄

[@supertuscans9512]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised!

[@patrickg3618]

As good a documentary as I have seen. Very extraordinary story of an extraordinary man's invention of the most important aeronautical advancement ever, the jet engine. Conceived and designed at 22, with years to pass before the world caught up with his vison. What a man.

[@azzajames7661]

Sir Frank Whittle, you are a genius, and we thank you so much for the jet engine 👏 You changed the world for ever🙌

[@chilebike6556]

My son's middle name is Whittle, as Sir Frank died the same year he was born. I called him that because Sir Frank was a brilliant man, rogered by UK.Gov. Not sure my son will be as brilliant..

[@Dronescapes]

Wow, thanks for letting us know Chile. I am sure your son is brilliant :)

[@chilebike6556]

Thank you guys, I appreciate your comments. My other son rejoices in the name of Grimthorpe, he of the Double Three Legged Gravity Escapement. But Lord Dennison was a pompous ass, even if a good clockmaker, whereas FW seems a thoroughly decent chap.

[@johnburns4017]

But someone to aspire to.

[@larrymitchell3502]

Thank you for all of your work and this video in particular. Whittle was a true pioneer. We must remember him as well as his work.

[@rajaskarnik28]

Beautiful documentary! ❤ Never knew so much went behind before the jet engine was globally commercialised. Today we have Turbojet, Turbofan, Turboprop, and Turboshaft. Aviation wouldn't have been the same without him. Sir Frank Whittle deserved far more than what he got.

[@keyboarddancers7751]

What an outstanding documentary!

[@Dronescapes]

Thank you

[@crumplezone1]

I am a hard man to impress but Mr Whittle impresses me

[@Dronescapes]

👍

[@huh4233]

My wife's grandfather was on the receiving end of the technology transfer to the Army Air Corps. He was one of the manager's of the program at Wright Field in Dayton Ohio. Great information on Mr. Whittle. Another piece of history for me to put into perspective with her family's involvement.

[@Dronescapes]

Wow, very interesting. Thank you for sharing!

[@pugmanick]

After the first words were spoken in the introduction I had a huge grin on my face. Eric was such a brilliant man, a great start to a great video.

[@thecrabpulsar]

There are billions of us who live the world and then there are a few who changed the world, Sir Frank Little was one of the few who changed the world. Tip my hat off to him.

[@Chris_at_Home]

I love this history. I worked assembling jet engines for a couple years in the late 1970s. I have spend a lot of time in the air powered by all types of engines.

[@Dronescapes]

Thank you Chris, why did you give up assembling jet engines?

[@Chris_at_Home]

@@Dronescapes I had an electronics background starting with working in a TV repair shop in high school in the late 1960s. Then I was an avionics technician on P-3 Orions doing a 4 years enlistment in the Navy. I left P&WA in 1979, moved to Alaska and worked well logging electronics for a little over 8 years then communications all over the state,for a few years then on the trans Alaska Pipeline for 15 years. Then I worked 6 years at a gateway earth station before retiring. I even did some overseas work in the early 90s including going to Kuwait when all the oil wells were still burning and then worked some at at big mine in Iran Jaya, Indonesia. One job traveling all over the state was turning up satellite communications for the FAA and also working at ZAN and ZSE centers. Three generations of family retired from P&WA

[@jge123]

Those pictures of the Concorde near the end, really was the top of elegance in human flight. 1:04:15 and he was already predicting faster supersonic travel 2000mph versus 1350 and bigger planes for 300 passengers, what a great future these brilliant older generations had in mind that sadly never happened.

[@nicholasjohnson6724]

In Australia, we have Sir Frank Whittle to thank for shrinking our world. Sydney to London non-stop, impossible with props. Or, 2 hours flying instead of 24 hours driving from Sydney to Adelaide, so i can see my family on a regular basis. Thank you Sir Frank. Your invention is still unsurpassed today.

[@rbnootan101]

FW was a visionary a great inventor the father of aero jet engines in the world. His legacy will never be forgotten. 👍🙏👏👏👏