He had an idea and made it fly. The story of Sir Frank Whittle and his invention of the first Jet Engine.

Frank Whittle: A Genius in the Family is the extraordinary true story of one man's determination to change the course of history--and how his invention transformed the modern world. Directed by Nick Horrell and Nichollas Jones, this gripping documentary chronicles the life and legacy of Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, the British engineer who invented the turbojet engine and ushered in the Jet Age.

Long before commercial flight and supersonic travel became reality, Whittle's revolutionary design faced rejection, ridicule, and bureaucratic stonewalling. Against staggering odds, his prototype engine roared to life in 1937, laying the foundation for the aircraft that would help turn the tide of World War II and forever redefine global aviation. Combining archival footage, rare interviews, and expert insight, the film explores both the engineering genius and the deeply human struggle behind one of the most important technological breakthroughs of the 20th century.

Featuring commentary from Ian Whittle, Dr. Hans von Ohain, Professor Robert Miller, Dr. Victoria Taylor, Richard Noble, Captain Eric Brown, and former Royal Aeronautical Society President Kerissa Khan--who famously summarizes the jet engine's brilliance as 'Suck, Squash, Bang, Blow'--the film brings together generations of innovators inspired by Whittle's work.

With unseen footage from the Jet Age Museum in Gloucester and exclusive interviews with the Whittle family, Frank Whittle: A Genius in the Family offers an intimate and inspiring look at the man whose idea made the world fly. Officially selected for the DaVinci International Film Festival in Los Angeles and nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Love and Hope International Film Festival in Barcelona, this documentary is both an engineering chronicle and a moving family portrait--one that celebrates perseverance, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of innovation.

Media

Bonus Materials

• Unseen Footage with Ian Whittle
• Additional footage from Jet Age Museum (Gloucester UK)

 

Cast & Crew

Actors:

•       Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle as Self
•       Ian Whittle as Self
•       Max Asseily as Self
•       Kerissa Khan as Self
•       Professor Robert Miller as Self
•       Dr Victoria Taylor as Self
•       Richard Noble as Self
•       Captain Eric Brown as Self
•       Dr Hans Von Ohain as Self

Director: Nick Horrell

Director: Nichollas Jones

Producer: Nick Horrell

Additional Details

Label: NH Communications

Genre: Documentary

Language: English

Run Time: 67 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 05/12/26

UPC: 760137203988