Whittle: The Jet Pioneer

Filmmaker Nicholas Jones's Whittle: The Jet Pioneer tells an absolutely fascinating story about the father of the turbine engine—which would revolutionize air travel—the late, innovative engineer Sir Frank Whittle. Whittle is seen and heard here via archival footage, in which he describes his uphill battle over several decades to see his turbojet inventions taken seriously. Eventually, Whittle's designs gained attention from military and commercial powers. Yet, incredibly, for a variety of reasons, he would not receive due credit in his native England until he was quite old. Originally made for the History Channel, the documentary covers a lot of ground (and air), mixing WWII-era footage with interviews of veteran test pilot Captain Eric Brown and German jet pioneer Hans von Ohain, who offer insights into the technological advances created by Whittle. An insightful tribute to Whittle and his world-changing passion, this engaging profile is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)