Genesis of the Jet chronicles the extraordinary life of Sir Frank Whittle, the brilliant visionary who revolutionised aviation by inventing the turbojet engine. This compelling narrative details Whittle’s journey from his humble beginnings as an RAF apprentice to his status as a pioneer whose ingenuity changed the world. Beyond the technical triumph of his invention, the book uncovers the harrowing bureaucratic struggles and political obstacles Whittle faced while attempting to convince the British establishment of his brainchild’s value.
Through exclusive collaboration with the inventor himself, authors John Golley and Bill Gunston reveal the human side of this genius, capturing his moral courage, humour, and the frustration of seeing his ground-breaking technology suffer from official neglect and eventual nationalisation. It is a definitive, dramatic account of an often-suppressed struggle for recognition, documenting how one man’s invention eventually became a cornerstone of modern aerospace while highlighting the high-stakes friction between visionary innovation and government institutionalism. This essential history offers a candid perspective on a pivotal era, celebrating a man whose immense contribution to the twentieth century remains undeniable.
Used (good, see images, minor cover wear) Softcover ISBN 185310860X
