James Dyson on Frank Whittle

Great Lives

BBC

History, Documentary, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 29 April 2024

⏱️ 29 minutes

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Summary

Frank Whittle’s fascination with aeroplanes started as a nine-year-old boy when he was nearly decapitated by one that was taking off from a local common in Coventry where he grew up. From that moment he set his sights on becoming a pilot, and joined the RAF in 1923. A few years later, aged just 21, he came up with an idea for powering aircraft so that they could fly much further and faster than the existing propeller planes. Despite a dearth of support from the Air Ministry, he doggedly pursued his vision of a turbojet engine and the RAF’s first fighter jet entered service towards the end of the Second World War, in 1944. His invention not only revolutionised air combat, but also international travel.

The inventor and entrepreneur James Dyson finds his story so inspiring that he has collected some of Whittle’s inventions, including an original working jet engine from 1943. He finds it amazing that Whittle got it right first time, which inventors almost never do. James Dyson is joined in the studio by Frank Whittle’s son, Ian Whittle, who is also a pilot.

Presenter: Matthew Parris Producer: Beth McLeod for BBC Studios Audio

Transcript

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0:00.0	Before you listen to this BBC podcast I'd like to introduce myself. My name's
0:04.0	Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a load of sport
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0:11.1	journalists, experienced pundits and the biggest
0:13.3	sports stars. Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights
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0:22.0	our unique access to the sporting world.
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0:28.9	dedicated sports fans across the UK.
0:31.5	So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more.
0:37.0	BBC Sounds, Music Radio Podcasts. costs. The sound of a turbojet engine which revolutionised air combat and international travel and was invented by the subject of today's great lives, Frank Whittle.
1:07.8	As a young RAF officer in 1929, he came up with a design for powering aircraft so they could fly much faster and further
1:16.4	and higher than existing propeller planes.
1:19.4	Battling against all the odds, he doggedly pursued his vision. The particular engine you've just heard
1:26.0	is the last working original whittle engine, made in 1943, and it's owned by today's guest, James Dyson, himself a prolific inventor and designer
1:36.6	famously of the bagglers vacuum cleaner.
1:39.2	Welcome to Great Lives.
1:41.1	Why have you chosen Frank Whittle? Well he was extraordinary. He left school at 15 and whilst he was at
1:49.9	Ari of Cromwell he wrote a thesis for his final exam, which is the professor said, I couldn't
1:57.1	quite follow everything you've written, Whittle, but I can't find anything wrong with it.
2:01.8	And really, this is the story of his life. He had this
2:04.2	extraordinary vision at a time when aeroplanes only went 150 miles an hour and
	...

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