Sir Frank Whittle

kit · Post by **kit** » 02 Jun 2007, 18:27

Paul's posting about Sir Edward Elgar reminded me that yesterday would have been Sir Frank's 100th birthday too.

They repeated the excellent biographical film of his life on Discovery this morning, and I noted yesterday that someone had placed a big poster thingie underneath the E28/39 'model' on the island by Jct 20 of the M1. I went round twice trying to read what it said but it got a bit dicey after just missing the third 44 T artic on the second lap....

FlyTexas · Post by **FlyTexas** » 02 Jun 2007, 18:37

It's a shame that one slipped past us. Well, happy belated birthday Sir Frank!

Brian

Post by **DelP** » 02 Jun 2007, 18:57

It was posted on my local TV last night..ITV and BBC West...didn't think to give a heads up here :redface:

The maiden flight was 1941..if anyone had taken it seriously back then...the Me 262 would have been dog-meat...

Derek

Paul K · Post by **Paul K** » 02 Jun 2007, 20:10

Good catch, Kit.

Is it true that Sir Frank was granted unlimited free flights by British Airways, or is it a myth ?

kit · Post by **kit** » 02 Jun 2007, 21:15

Paul,

I've heard that too, but it wasn't mentioned in the programme. It would be the least they could do I'd have thought.

His son was a Captain with Cathay Pacific (maybe still is.....) and he told a tale of flying his Dad into Kai Tak in a -400. Sir Frank was visibly un-nerved by the 'Checkerboard Approach' apparently, but then I guess anyone other than a real world Captain would be! It frightens me in FS2004 and I'm sitting in Gloucestershire!!!!