Sir Frank Whittle (1907-1996), the British aeronautical engineer who invented the jet engine. After entering the Royal Air Force as a boy apprentice, Whittle qualified as a pilot from Cranwell College (later he was to serve as an RAF test pilot) and studied engineering at Cambridge. His main achievement has been the invention of the turbojet aircraft engine, on which he took out his first patentin 1930 while still a student. In 1936 he formed his own company to develop the concept, and in 1941 a Gloster aircraft with his engine made its first test flight. Due to the war development was rapid, and the Gloster was in service with the RAF by 1944.