1937年4月12日,英国空军军官弗兰克·惠特尔研制的涡轮喷气发动机试运行。弗兰克在空军服役时,就深感内燃机的功率与螺旋桨的推力对于飞行的局限。从此他致力于开发一种新式的发动机。1935年起他就开始从事喷气发动机的研究工作.但是这一工作并不很顺利.直到1941后,经过了一系列的实验与失败之后,弗兰克所设计的喷气发动机才正式装备在格洛斯特战斗机上。 On April 12, 1937, a turbojet engine developed by British Air Force officer Frank Whittle was commissioned. When Frank served in the Air Force, he felt that the power of the internal combustion engine and the thrust of the propeller were the limitations of flying. From then on, he was committed to developing a new type of engine. He began to work on jet engines since 1935. But this work was not very smooth. After a series of experiments and failures after 1941, the jet engine designed by Frank was formally equipped in the Gloucester fighter. on.