Club Meeting 7th February 2013
Chairman Ron with Speaker Roger Stanley
The Chairman, Ron Major, welcomed a good attendance of members to the February lunch in the Expanse Hotel.
After grace, the members marked in silence the recent death of Barry Rowe. Barry was a highly respected and loved stalwart member of the club. He had served for 6 years as secretary and was a recent Chairman. His tenure of office had seen the club through a tricky period to better times. Cyril Dawson passed on his widow Beryl’s thanks to members for their support during Barry’s recent illness.
The Chairman installed David Rawding as a new member.
After lunch Roger Stanley, a club member and retired chartered engineer, gave a skilfully illustrated and well constructed talk on Sir Frank Whittle and the Development of the Gas Turbine for Aircraft Jet Propulsion.
Frank, small of stature at 5ft 2ins, highly intelligent and self confident had twice failed entry on medical grounds to the RAF at 15 and 16. However he applied to Cranwell, the RAF college and was accepted. This was an early indication of his determination. As an apprentice aged 20 he had produced a thesis on “The Future Development in Aircraft Design”. He was interested in air speed. Before 1914 the air speed record was 30 – 40 mph; for 1918 it was 150mph; by 1928 it was 350mph and by 1939 470mph. He realised that other propulsion would be necessary to increase these speeds. Between 1928 and 1935 he was working towards this end. In January 1930 he patented a Gas Turbine but could not afford to renew the patent. Though he was encouraged in his work by the RAF, his colleagues and other young engineers, he found opposition from civil servants, mature engineers and the piston engine vested interests. He had no financial backing. However in 1935 investment was obtained and a company Power Jets Ltd was formed. He worked on the development of a compressor, combustion chamber and turbine. The first demo. engine was made in April 1937 with a thrust of 1300lb. A Fight Configuration engine was ready in June 1939 with a thrust of 1600lb. The Gloster Company developed the first aeroplane. In May 1941 it had its first flight with Gerry Sayer as test pilot. The Gloster Meteor had its first flight in March 1943, there were eventually about 4000 built. DeHavilland developed the Vampire also in 1943.
Roger also outlined the parallel developments taking place in Germany through the work of Hans Von Ohain, with whom Whittle later became friendly and in the USA and Russia. In the case of both USA and Russia their developments were from information handed over or sold by Britain.
There are memorials to Sir Frank Whittle in both Coventry and Lutterworth.
Len Collins gave a vote of thanks for a thoroughly fascinating talk which showed Sir Frank’s determination to succeed and the speaker’s knowledge.
Jim Hornsby and John Heaton have set up a Bridlington Probus Club website and anyone interested in seeking further information about the club’s activities or wishing to join the club can look on google for Probus Bridlington or ring Jim on 673368.
After grace, the members marked in silence the recent death of Barry Rowe. Barry was a highly respected and loved stalwart member of the club. He had served for 6 years as secretary and was a recent Chairman. His tenure of office had seen the club through a tricky period to better times. Cyril Dawson passed on his widow Beryl’s thanks to members for their support during Barry’s recent illness.
The Chairman installed David Rawding as a new member.
After lunch Roger Stanley, a club member and retired chartered engineer, gave a skilfully illustrated and well constructed talk on Sir Frank Whittle and the Development of the Gas Turbine for Aircraft Jet Propulsion.
Frank, small of stature at 5ft 2ins, highly intelligent and self confident had twice failed entry on medical grounds to the RAF at 15 and 16. However he applied to Cranwell, the RAF college and was accepted. This was an early indication of his determination. As an apprentice aged 20 he had produced a thesis on “The Future Development in Aircraft Design”. He was interested in air speed. Before 1914 the air speed record was 30 – 40 mph; for 1918 it was 150mph; by 1928 it was 350mph and by 1939 470mph. He realised that other propulsion would be necessary to increase these speeds. Between 1928 and 1935 he was working towards this end. In January 1930 he patented a Gas Turbine but could not afford to renew the patent. Though he was encouraged in his work by the RAF, his colleagues and other young engineers, he found opposition from civil servants, mature engineers and the piston engine vested interests. He had no financial backing. However in 1935 investment was obtained and a company Power Jets Ltd was formed. He worked on the development of a compressor, combustion chamber and turbine. The first demo. engine was made in April 1937 with a thrust of 1300lb. A Fight Configuration engine was ready in June 1939 with a thrust of 1600lb. The Gloster Company developed the first aeroplane. In May 1941 it had its first flight with Gerry Sayer as test pilot. The Gloster Meteor had its first flight in March 1943, there were eventually about 4000 built. DeHavilland developed the Vampire also in 1943.
Roger also outlined the parallel developments taking place in Germany through the work of Hans Von Ohain, with whom Whittle later became friendly and in the USA and Russia. In the case of both USA and Russia their developments were from information handed over or sold by Britain.
There are memorials to Sir Frank Whittle in both Coventry and Lutterworth.
Len Collins gave a vote of thanks for a thoroughly fascinating talk which showed Sir Frank’s determination to succeed and the speaker’s knowledge.
Jim Hornsby and John Heaton have set up a Bridlington Probus Club website and anyone interested in seeking further information about the club’s activities or wishing to join the club can look on google for Probus Bridlington or ring Jim on 673368.