Whittle W2/700 Jet Engine. The design of this engine dates back to January 1945.

The jet engine was invented in 1937 by RAF test pilot, Frank Whittle. This revolutionary development meant the sky was no longer the limit.

Of course, if the RAF had had their way, things might not have changed. They actually rejected Whittle's idea when he first tabled it in the 1920's!

Whittle's prototype was capable of 1,240lbs thrust - a fraction of modern jet-power. Even so, this was a drastic departure from the internal combustion engines that were powering the fastest planes of the era.

So what makes them so different?

• Gas turbine jet engines burn pressurised fuel causing air to expand and spin the turbine - effectively creating propulsion.

• Internal combustion engines are much the same, except that pressurised fuel is burnt in tiny controlled explosions within the engine. These are harnessed by pistons to create propulsion.
 
The greatest difference between the two is the power-to-weight ratio - jet engines give incredible power compared to the weight of the device. Essentially, comparing a jet engine to that of a propeller-driven aeroplane is like contrasting a cheetah with a crawling baby.