Educational Media Reviews Online

This film documents the life and career of Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle (1907-1996), known as the father of jet propulsion and the inventor of the gas turbine jet engine. He patented the idea of the turbojet engine and built a prototype before his 30th birthday. While the Germans were developing their own turbojet and failing, Whittle's engines were being used on Allied aircraft and provided a strategic advantage to the Allies in World War II. After the war, Whittle assisted General Electric in the U.S. to refine and mass produce his jet engines, for which every version since has been modeled on Whittle's design. This documentary is told by Whittle himself, with interviews from various colleagues and even adversaries from the Third Reich. It is a powerful and dramatic tale, even more so in that the man himself tells his story. Whittle: The Jet Pioneer is a wonderful documentary and history lesson.