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Jet Man: The Making and Breaking of Frank Whittle, Genius of the Jet Revolution
The story of Frank Whittle – RAF pilot, mathematician of genius, inventor of the jet engine and British hero. In 1985 Hans von Ohain, the scientist who pioneered Nazi Germany's efforts to build a jet plane, posed the 'Would World War II have occured if the Luftwaffe knew it faced operational British jets instead of Spitfires?' He immediately answered, 'I, for one, think not.' Frank Whittle, working-class outsider and self-taught enthusiast, had worked out the blueprint of a completely new type of engine in 1929, only for his ideas to be blocked by bureaucratic opposition until the outbreak of war in 1939. The importance of his work was recognized too late by the government for his revolutionary engine to play a major part in World War II. After the war Whittle's dream of civilian jet-powered aircraft became a reality and Britain enjoyed a golden age of 1950's jet-powered flight. Drawing on Whittle's extensive private papers, Campbell-Smith tells the story of a stoic and overlooked British hero, a tantalizing tale of 'what might have been'.
560 pages, Hardcover
Published February 1, 2021
90 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 30, 2021
Published in 2020, 'Jet Man' tells the story of Frank Whittle's trials and tribulations in course of developing the revolutionary gas turbine jet engine in the face of official disinterest. There is some fine detail here of the technical challenges involved, as well as a very informative family tree of the various jet engine developments made by Whittle - many books on the subject neglect this and just give you a lot of confusing engine designations without the context of knowing where they lie i the development process and this book covers that very well. Notwithstanding Whittle's genius, it does seem to depict him as a micro-managing control freak with mental health problems and a naive understanding of business realities, but that may be just my take on his portrayal in the book. Whilst it seems obvious to state that the book is biased towards Whittle's perspective, it did seem to lack the objectivity that a historian should employ. For example, Whittle is portrayed as meeting obstacles at every turn, without any real attempt to look at why these obstacles might have arisen, and whether they might have been due to perfectly reasonable concerns. The German developments in jet engine technology are briefly mentioned a few times, but all too often they are misrepresented or ignored altogether. There is also an alarming habit of misquoting or paraphrasing numbered notes as well as some glaring factual errors. Despite the flaws, an engrossing and hugely enjoyable read.
February 28, 2022
An almost unbelievable story of genius and a reflection of UK that so true today, wonderfully told.
I came to this book knowing only the headlines about the development of the jet engine and of Frank Whittle. As an engineer who has previously worked in UK and US aerospace it was always something I wanted to understand. The story doesn't disappoint, but it does shock and sadden, and at the same time fills you with enormous respect for the man and his team.
How Whittle had the insight, character and ability to do what he did is astonishing. When you add in the headwinds, lack of support, selfishness, backbiting and ignorance of most of the people in authority, it is just amazing. He clearly had not just technical skills, a huge strength of character and was held in awe by the people who understood.
The fact that the UK squandered the asset of the jet engine is sad and but is a reflection how we approach much that's new, to this day.
This is a factual book, with many characters, and it would be easy to be lost, but the author does a great job steering you through..
The story is carefully researched and referenced and truly gripping.
Great read, thanks.
I came to this book knowing only the headlines about the development of the jet engine and of Frank Whittle. As an engineer who has previously worked in UK and US aerospace it was always something I wanted to understand. The story doesn't disappoint, but it does shock and sadden, and at the same time fills you with enormous respect for the man and his team.
How Whittle had the insight, character and ability to do what he did is astonishing. When you add in the headwinds, lack of support, selfishness, backbiting and ignorance of most of the people in authority, it is just amazing. He clearly had not just technical skills, a huge strength of character and was held in awe by the people who understood.
The fact that the UK squandered the asset of the jet engine is sad and but is a reflection how we approach much that's new, to this day.
This is a factual book, with many characters, and it would be easy to be lost, but the author does a great job steering you through..
The story is carefully researched and referenced and truly gripping.
Great read, thanks.
November 11, 2022
A fascinating and detailed book about Sir Frank Whittle and his invention of the jet engine. He was a true genius and had a phenomenal engineering mind way ahead of his contemporaries in technical acumen and vision for the future of jet powered aviation. The book portrays the social history of the war years and British bureaucracy and lack of fore-site which delayed the new invention by at least 5years. It contrasts this with America where his ideas were seized on and developed to transform aviation. This was very enjoyable to the end and a real page turner. I could not put it down. It left me wondering why I was taught Shakespeare at school and not the story of an equivalent but engineering mind which also changed the world? As a British engineer myself I think I know the answer!
January 31, 2021
This is an excellent book.
The author's erudition and ability to master the material (of which it sounds as if there was no shortage) is striking. I realise that is part of the skill of the historian/writer but it’s a joy to watch it being done well. At some stages, I had to stop reading it at bedtime because I was so aggravated by the obstructionists who may have changed the course of history by preventing the early development of the engine but it was a delight to read of the sheer genius of Whittle.
The author's erudition and ability to master the material (of which it sounds as if there was no shortage) is striking. I realise that is part of the skill of the historian/writer but it’s a joy to watch it being done well. At some stages, I had to stop reading it at bedtime because I was so aggravated by the obstructionists who may have changed the course of history by preventing the early development of the engine but it was a delight to read of the sheer genius of Whittle.
August 21, 2021
A stunning 'warts and all' biography.
Absolutely brilliant. I am no aircraft geek and was a bit dubious when I started the book. It could have been a tedious technical homage to an engineering genius.
However it is a sumptuous read of human adversity against snobbery and beaurocratic arrogance. Beautifully written and utterly absorbing. The author succeeds by making Frank Whittle's travails into an enthralling story and not a litany of events. Fantastic book, loved reading it.
Absolutely brilliant. I am no aircraft geek and was a bit dubious when I started the book. It could have been a tedious technical homage to an engineering genius.
However it is a sumptuous read of human adversity against snobbery and beaurocratic arrogance. Beautifully written and utterly absorbing. The author succeeds by making Frank Whittle's travails into an enthralling story and not a litany of events. Fantastic book, loved reading it.
December 27, 2021
Griping story of one man's vision
Surprisingly gripping, and sometimes emotional, story of the challenges met by Whittle during the development of the jet engine. Very well written, it is a page turner, with drama building as the government struggles with WW2 and a paradigm shift in airctaft propulsion that was clearly beyond the vision of many. This feels like a balanced account that sets the record straight. One has to wonder how many lives would have been saved had the jet engine been financially supported more strongly from the outset.
Surprisingly gripping, and sometimes emotional, story of the challenges met by Whittle during the development of the jet engine. Very well written, it is a page turner, with drama building as the government struggles with WW2 and a paradigm shift in airctaft propulsion that was clearly beyond the vision of many. This feels like a balanced account that sets the record straight. One has to wonder how many lives would have been saved had the jet engine been financially supported more strongly from the outset.
October 2, 2021
Really enjoyable read about the creator of the Jet engine and the troubles behind himself and the engine itself. It covers difficulties with the other companies involved as well... Makes you think the jet engine could have arrived sooner than it did and what impact that may have had on World War 2.
March 26, 2022
Whittle: heroic bordering on tragic
How one single-minded, visionary genius have Britain the her engine amidst the confusion and administrative chaos of war-time Britain. fascinating.
How one single-minded, visionary genius have Britain the her engine amidst the confusion and administrative chaos of war-time Britain. fascinating.
Read
March 31, 2022An example of British engineering genius almost ruined by the authorities.
Very well written sums up how's genius was not appreciated this side of the pond. The Americans understood how clever this man was.
Very well written sums up how's genius was not appreciated this side of the pond. The Americans understood how clever this man was.
December 11, 2022
Fanatical
Whittle was fanatical on two counts,1 he was a brilliant Engineer and mathematician 2 unfortunately he was fanatical about getting his own way on everything and everybody.He caused himself so much stress his health gave way and he has to retire.His legacy was the invention of the turbine engine a world first.
Whittle was fanatical on two counts,1 he was a brilliant Engineer and mathematician 2 unfortunately he was fanatical about getting his own way on everything and everybody.He caused himself so much stress his health gave way and he has to retire.His legacy was the invention of the turbine engine a world first.
March 7, 2023
A quite detailed book which tells the story well. I learned a lot about the character of Whittle and the obstructions put in his way by the government and the aircraft industry. Parts of the book are a bit dry but overall an interesting book.
February 26, 2021
Great story
Very eye opening book, for aircraft or engineering enthusiasts alike, a great demonstration of dogged determination in the face of doubters!
Very eye opening book, for aircraft or engineering enthusiasts alike, a great demonstration of dogged determination in the face of doubters!
Read
September 21, 2022Excellent read
Fascinating for anyone with an interest in engineering, aviation or human endeavour on either side of the pond, a first class story.
Fascinating for anyone with an interest in engineering, aviation or human endeavour on either side of the pond, a first class story.
September 23, 2022
This is a looooooooong book.
I gave up at 38% with another eleven hours to go.
It's interesting but just too tedious
I gave up at 38% with another eleven hours to go.
It's interesting but just too tedious
March 22, 2023
Very detailed but very dry. If you’re into engineering history then you will love this. If you aren’t, you will struggle to slog through it.
May 2, 2023
Incredible story of persistence... Book could be a bit tedious.. Minutes of endless meetings etc. But stick with it.. A true national hero
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews