Bust of Frank Whittle holding his invention, the jet engine. British aeronautical engineer Frank Whittle (1907-1996) qualified as an RAF pilot and studied engineering at Cambridge. He took out his first patent on his turbojet aircraft engine in 1930. 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. Whittle was made KBE in 1948. This bronze bust by Ken Ford, in Lutterworth, UK, was unveiled on 15 June 1987 by one of Whittle's co-workers Geoffrey Bertram Robert 'Bob' Feilden (1917-2004).