The Emergence of the Jet Engine - Paper Example

Introduction

The engine has quite a bit of story to it. It emanates from steam tools in 2 BC to what we have today as the modern jet engine which was invented by Frank Whittle. In the 150 BC, a machine called Aeolipile was created which had the function of causing a globe to rotate on its own like the earth. This invention used steam energy as a source of power. The interesting thing about this invention is that people did not even know the importance of it which included dispersing mechanical energy. Later the mathematical father, Archytas in his book detailed that he had succeeded in creating a birdlike machine which flows for a distance of 2000 meters. In 1913 Lorin was awarded a patent for a ramjet though there were no aircraft that could achieve it's intended speeds. Later on in the 1930s, the problem of solving the speed issue was tackled by scientists. The challenge was that the pistons and propellers were so restricted that they resulted in inefficiency which causes it not to go to the desired altitude for a certain speed.

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This is where Frank whittle 'thesis was about. The solution to this was the adaptation of the turbine engine also known jet engines to do the work. A French man by the name of Maximo who got the patent for the 1st turbine to be used in energizing an airplane in 1932. Later on in the 1930s, the problem of solving the speed issue was tackled by scientists. The challenge was that the pistons and propellers were so restricted that they resulted in inefficiency which causes it not to go to the desired altitude for a certain speed. This is where Frank whittle 'thesis was about. The solution to this was the adaptation of the turbine engine also known jet engines to do the work. A French man by the name of Maximo who got the patent for the 1st turbine to be used in energizing an airplane in 1932.

Frank Whittle was a British officer who is attributed for his work on inventing what is today known as a turbojet engine. He was born on June 1st, 1907 in Britain and lived for 89 years. When Frank whittle was young he was very much interested in engineering and floating in the air. Whittle's passion about flying led him to join the British military specifically the air force department. This is where the idea of building an engine that is able to go at high speeds came and thus the birth of the modern day jet engine had begun. In his long and fruitful life, frank whittle was able to accomplish many things which immensely contributed to our society thereby earning him so many prestige and honors. His life was also full of some challenges as like other human beings.

The first accomplishment of frank whittle in his life was gaining admission to the air force. This was an achievement to frank because he had not met the requirements of joining the military due to his physic. The air force though lets him join through a program that trained mechanics who could service the war planes they had. The second accomplish came when he was chosen out of a possible 600 persons to be 1 of the six people chosen to become a cadet of the royal air force institution. This accomplishment was achieved out of the hard work and brilliance of whittle. The third accomplishment is coming up with a thesis after a period of five years which contained the idea of the creation of the jet engine.

His tutor at the institution when he viewed the thesis could not find even a single blemish in it. The fourth achievement came when he graduated the college and was awarded a memorial gift for aviation sciences. He then became officially a pilot. His fifth achievement came when he was able to perform feats which earned him great respect at Horn church. Another accomplishment is when he was given an audience in the air ministry to show off his idea. The next accomplishment is when he was able to patent his work in 1930 though he had financial difficulties. Another accomplishment of his he came up with the idea of afterburner which is in use today. Another accomplishment was made in 1937 when created an engine which was poling in fuel. The project later received government backing and even put on the secrets act. Another achievement is a patent of the turbofan. He piloted a jet for the first time in 1945 and was knighted by the Queen

The first challenge was creating or finding a new source of propulsive energy that would, in turn, prevent the pistons and propellers from losing their efficacy. This is because for an aircraft to go at lightning speed it's essential that it is able to travel at a very high altitude which was not made possible due to the propellers and pistons. The second challenge is when he is hit by a car driven by an old and deaf man. He was very lucky to have survived the accident with injuries. The third challenge he faced is when his insurance provider cancels his policy herby ending his two-wheeling career. The 4th challenge experienced was when his plane had a collision which resulted in him being made an instructor. Another challenge he faced is when the air ministry dismissed his idea. They consider it as being over-optimistic and erred calculations. Another challenge was the ministry air ministry denying him funds to realize is an invention. Bureaucratic tapes which stalled the jets for two years.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the future of the jet engine is bright and is filled with expectations for the human race. Though frank whittle will not see this, it's important to honor him for making one of the greatest inventions in history the best part of it is that he beat all odds and achieved great things. There is a new development in the turbofan, which is now electric thereby the engine is much quieter and efficient in consuming fuel energy. This new accomplishment is considered environmentally friendly due to the less harmful effects it as on pollution of the environment.

References

Constant, E. (1988). Whittle: The True Story. John Golley, Bill Gunston, Frank Whittle. Isis, 79(2), 337-337. Doi: 10.1086/354754

Fulton, K. (1996). Frank Whittle (1907-96). Nature, 383(6595), 27-27. Doi: 10.1038/383027a0