Frank Whittle: The Invention of the Jet

Product Description The story of the jet engine has everything: genius, tragedy, heroism, a world war, the individual vs. the state, and an idea that would change the world. Frank Whittle always maintained that he was held back by a lack of government support. At the very moment in 1943 when his invention was unveiled to the world, his company, Power Jets, was forcibly nationalised. Yet Whittle's brilliance, charm and charisma helped him recruit major support from the British government and the RAF, who gave him the green light to build a jet engine at a time when to do so made little sense. Here is a story of what pushing technology to its limits can achieve - and the effect that such achievement can have on those involved. Review Read it to learn about what really happened. -- Guardian A superb contribution, and one that badly needed to be done. -- Richard P. Hallion Book Description Blending genius, tragedy, heroism and war, Andrew Nahum tells the fascinating story of the man whose invention would go on to change the world. About the Author Andrew Nahum is currently Keeper Emeritus at the Science Museum, London. He is also author of Alec Issigonis and the Mini (Icon Books, 2004) and Fifty Cars that changed the World (Design Museum, 2009, 2016).