Cold War - Hot Jets
Discussion
Another rubbish documentary on the way from the BBC. Why do I have to subsidise this stuff?
Being totally facetious here - this looks like it will be really good - and it's written and presented by James Holland.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03hhm6z
Being totally facetious here - this looks like it will be really good - and it's written and presented by James Holland.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03hhm6z
rhinochopig said:
How the jet engine gave Britain hope...
Mmm. Garage genius invents jet engine, UK Government not interested, UK Government gets interested too late, gives secret to Russians, gives secret to Americans, Russians use secret against us in Korean war, Americans use secret to destroy UK airliner industry.Did I forget anything?
Simpo Two said:
Mmm. Garage genius invents jet engine, UK Government not interested, UK Government gets interested too late, gives secret to Russians, gives secret to Americans, Russians use secret against us in Korean war, Americans use secret to destroy UK airliner industry.
Did I forget anything?
No. But most of what you "remembered" was incorrect.Did I forget anything?
The real version of events -
RAF Officer Cadet writes thesis on gas turbine as part of officer training (gets a high marking as a result as well)
RAF offers him leave of absence to develop idea (i.e. government supports his idea)
Whittle sets up his own limited company (Power Jets Ltd) to develop the engine.
Government encourages aero engine manufacturers to take interest - all refuse.
Initially, Power Jets has to go it alone and struggles due to under capilisation..
In light of above, government persuades Rover car company to assist Whittle
Whittle falls out with Rover. Government employee (Stanley Hooker of the RAE) realises Whittle is in trouble and persuades Lord Hives (Chairman of Rolls Royce) to look at Whittle's idea. Hives reluctant at first but Hooker convinces him.
Rolls Royce swaps factories with Rover to enable them to take over the Whittle project.
As you can see, at every step along the way, the UK government were trying to HELP Whittle. It was UK INDUSTRY that was reluctant to take on the idea.
And if you think Whittle had problems, you should read what was going on in Germany.
It certainly gave jets to the US during the war. Since the UK was pretty desperate for help from that quarter in that period, I don't think they had much choice to be honest.
Less understandable was gifting the Rolls Royce Nene to the Russkis - who actually made a damn fine job of their derivative of the Nene.
The UK airliner manufacturing industry was essentially destroyed by the UK airliner manufacturing industry i.e. making aeroplanes that nobody particularly wanted (with the odd notable exception, of course, like the Viscount).
Less understandable was gifting the Rolls Royce Nene to the Russkis - who actually made a damn fine job of their derivative of the Nene.
The UK airliner manufacturing industry was essentially destroyed by the UK airliner manufacturing industry i.e. making aeroplanes that nobody particularly wanted (with the odd notable exception, of course, like the Viscount).
Eric Mc said:
It certainly gave jets to the US during the war. Since the UK was pretty desperate for help from that quarter in that period, I don't think they had much choice to be honest.
Yes we had a wonderful "No Secrets" arrangement with the Yanks that ensured that all of our best war time inventions were passed directly over to the Americans. It was supposed to be a reciprocal arrangement, but I would not hold your breath too much of you want to find out what secret inventions they shared with us. Whittles Jet, RR Merlin, Bletchley Bombes to name but a few that went over the pond under that agreement. Eric Mc said:
No. But most of what you "remembered" was incorrect.
The real version of events -
RAF Officer Cadet writes thesis on gas turbine as part of officer training (gets a high marking as a result as well)
RAF offers him leave of absence to develop idea (i.e. government supports his idea)
Whittle sets up his own limited company (Power Jets Ltd) to develop the engine.
Government encourages aero engine manufacturers to take interest - all refuse.
Initially, Power Jets has to go it alone and struggles due to under capilisation..
In light of above, government persuades Rover car company to assist Whittle
Whittle falls out with Rover. Government employee (Stanley Hooker of the RAE) realises Whittle is in trouble and persuades Lord Hives (Chairman of Rolls Royce) to look at Whittle's idea. Hives reluctant at first but Hooker convinces him.
Rolls Royce swaps factories with Rover to enable them to take over the Whittle project.
As you can see, at every step along the way, the UK government were trying to HELP Whittle. It was UK INDUSTRY that was reluctant to take on the idea.
And if you think Whittle had problems, you should read what was going on in Germany.
You forgot the bit about the Officers Cadets' mathmatical calculations on the compressor vanes not agreeing with the perceived wisdom and the subsequent arguments to prove he was right and every other bugger was wrong.The real version of events -
RAF Officer Cadet writes thesis on gas turbine as part of officer training (gets a high marking as a result as well)
RAF offers him leave of absence to develop idea (i.e. government supports his idea)
Whittle sets up his own limited company (Power Jets Ltd) to develop the engine.
Government encourages aero engine manufacturers to take interest - all refuse.
Initially, Power Jets has to go it alone and struggles due to under capilisation..
In light of above, government persuades Rover car company to assist Whittle
Whittle falls out with Rover. Government employee (Stanley Hooker of the RAE) realises Whittle is in trouble and persuades Lord Hives (Chairman of Rolls Royce) to look at Whittle's idea. Hives reluctant at first but Hooker convinces him.
Rolls Royce swaps factories with Rover to enable them to take over the Whittle project.
As you can see, at every step along the way, the UK government were trying to HELP Whittle. It was UK INDUSTRY that was reluctant to take on the idea.
And if you think Whittle had problems, you should read what was going on in Germany.
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