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Aug 29, 2023

Sir Frank Whittle: The Life & Times Of The Father Of The Turbojet Engine

Whittle patented his first turbojet engine design in 1930. Sir Frank Whittle

Whittle patented his first turbojet engine design in 1930.

Sir Frank Whittle was an English engineer and air officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF). He was also the inventor of the turbojet engine. During his academic career, Whittle learned the theory of jet engines and gained practical experience during engineering workshops. Before becoming an accomplished pilot, Whittle was selected as an Aircraft Apprentice. While writing his thesis, Whittle formulated the fundamental concepts of a jet engine: these theoretical concepts and a preliminary design led to the creation of the turbojet engine in 1930.

Sir Frank Whittle formed a company named Power Jets Limited along with two retired RAF servicemen to build his engine. Despite no support from the RAF and limited funding for the project, the first prototype of the newly developed turbojet was constructed and tested in 1938. A series of test runs led to its interest among professionals in the field. Contracts start to pour in to build more engines. In 1944, Power Jets Limited was nationalized and capable of meeting the engine demand from customers. Unfortunately, due to severe health reasons, Whittle had to resign from the board in 1946.

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A piston engine is a heat engine that uses reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a rotating motion. The internal combustion engine, used in automobiles, is a type of piston engine which provides combustion through spark ignition or through compression ignition. The compression ignition system allows air to be compressed (and therefore heated) before igniting the fuel for combustion.

Sir Frank Whittle decided to replace the piston(s) with a turbine to extract power from the exhaust and drive a similar compressor as is used for superchargers. After the incoming air has passed through the compressor, mixed with fuel, and ignited, turbines produce thrust. The hot gasses expand and pass through the turbine before exiting through the exhaust. During the process, the exit velocity becomes more significant than the free-stream velocity, which generates thrust and propels the engine (and the aircraft) forward.

Whittle followed early research papers on compressors and turbines from the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) to establish the theoretical framework of his design. Underlying the importance of efficiency and performance, he emphasized the shape of the compressor and turbine blade airfoils. Whittle's turbojet proposal required a compressor with a pressure ratio of 4:1, while the best supercharger at the time had half the pressure ratio. Whittle proposed increased engine efficiency as a result of the gas turbine.

A 560 lb (254 kg) turbojet having a maximum thrust of 1,240 lbs (5,516 N) at 17,750 rpm became one of the first turbojet engines in history. It had a single-stage, double entry, centrifugal combustor with ten reverse flow chambers and a single-stage turbine to extract power. With the design patented by Sir Frank Whittle in 1932, the engine first flew on the E.28/39 in 1941, marking the unofficial first flight of a British jet aircraft.

After his retirement from the RAF in 1948, Whittle assisted BOAC as a technical advisor before working as an engineering specialist with multiple companies. He immigrated to the United States and joined the United States Naval Academy the following year. Whittle died of lung cancer at his home in Columbia, Maryland, in August 1996.

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Writer - Omar is an aviation enthusiast who holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering. With numerous years of technical and research experience under his belt, Omar aims to focus on research-based aviation practices. Apart from work, Omar has a passion for traveling, visiting aviation sites, and plane spotting. Based in Vancouver, Canada